The report noted noted that “AIPAC is becoming an increasingly toxic brand for some Democrats on Capitol Hill,” with some Democratic lawmakers having refused to accept donations from the pro-Israel lobby group in recent weeks.
With public opinion on Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza shifting, Democrats in the US government are weighing new alliances as AIPAC’s influence wanes, according to a New York Times report.
One example is that of New York Democrat Hakeem Jefrries, who, until recently, was “taking police meetings with J Street, the center-left lobbying group that promotes a two-state solution in the Middle East.”
Jeffries previously had a close association with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the powerful pro-Israel lobby group that has “long supported him financially,” the report stated.
“AIPAC is becoming an increasingly toxic brand for some Democrats on Capitol Hill”
“Democrats who once counted AIPAC among their top donors have in recent weeks refused to take the group’s donations”
Polls show “American support for Israel is crumbling”https://t.co/3jlur91M5q
— Dylan Williams (@dylanotes) October 2, 2025
Last month, however, Jeffries accepted J Street’s official support for the first time with the NYT describing it as “a coup” for J Street since it is “highly critical” of the Israeli government and seeks “to establish itself as the mainstream voice about Israel on Capitol Hill.”
For Jeffries, dubbed the “AIPAC Shakur” by a US radio host, to take such a step is “a symbol” of change taking place in Congress regarding Israel, as well as “the clout” that AIPAC has had for decades.
Not only is support for Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza waning among Democratic voters, but some Democratic lawmakers have refused in recent weeks to accept donations from AIPAC, the report stated.
‘Annual Trip to Israel’
Even its “annual trip to Israel”, a significant experience for many lawmakers, has seen a sharp decline in participation from the Democrats. In addition, the Senate Democratic Caucus has voted in recent months for legislation curtailing arms sales to Israel, in direct opposition to AIPAC’s position.
The report mentioned three Democratic members of Congress who have made it clear over the past few weeks that they would no longer accept donations from the lobby group. They previously “relied on AIPAC as a top campaign contributor,” the report stated.
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AIPAC has always been a formidable force on Capitol Hill, the report stated, with the group spending more than $23 million last year to defeat former Representatives Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York. Both vehemently opposed the US’s unconditional aid to Israel.
The lobby group donated more than $1 million to boost Representative Maxine E. Dexter’s campaign in Oregon, helping her defeat Susheela Jayapal, sister of progressive leader Pramila Jayapal.
But Dexter also recently voiced opposition to the US supply of arms to Israel, saying it “must halt the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel and ensure immediate, sufficient and sustained humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
“We are at a tipping point given what has happened over the last two years in Gaza, and the fact that AIPAC still maintains that all we can do is support the government of Israel — they’ve run into a wall,” Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, was quoted as saying in the report.
‘Good Politics, Good Policy’
A spokesperson for AIPAC, Marshal Wittman, maintained that the “overwhelming majority” of Democrats understand that “being pro-Israel ‘is both good politics and good policy,’” the report stated.
The shift in political standing is not confined to Democrats, with hard-right Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene having condemned the onslaught on Gaza as a “genocide”.
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With AIPAC “weighing whether to get involved” in defeating her in next year’s re-election, Greene recently described the AIPAC-sponsored trips to Israel as attempts to “pull you in because they want to pull you on their side,” the report stated.
It also noted that “AIPAC is becoming an increasingly toxic brand for some Democrats on Capitol Hill.”
(PC, Al Mayadeen)
