Election Spending: AIPAC loses most funds in 2026 midterms

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its linked political spending groups invested heavily in the 2026 midterm elections, but financial records indicate a sharp decline in electoral efficiency. Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate on November 3, a result that complicated the financial strategy of major lobbying firms. AIPAC reported on November 4 that approximately 234 candidates it supported won their respective races.

The financial cost of the losing bets was substantial. The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft calculated that roughly $55 million of the $84 million spent by AIPAC, its super PAC United Democracy Project, and other linked groups went to candidates who did not win. Trita Parsi, the institute's executive vice president, stated that candidates now frequently view AIPAC donations as toxic. This shift reflects a growing tendency among politicians to reject the funding rather than accept the associated political baggage.

The Michigan Senate race illustrates the scale of the spending and the resulting losses. AIPAC and its affiliated PACs spent about $30 million on Democrat Haley Stevens during the primary. After Stevens lost the nomination, the group invested another $9 million in Republican Mike Rogers. Rogers defeated Stevens but lost to Abdul El-Sayed on November 3. El-Sayed, who has a critical stance on U.S. support for Israel, addressed the lobbying group in his victory speech, thanking them for the chance to defeat them twice.

Other high-profile defeats included the Maine Senate race and a California House contest. Linked groups provided more than $4.8 million to help re-elect Republican Senator Susan Collins, but she lost to Democrat Troy Jackson. In California, Melissa Hernandez received over $6 million in support but lost to Aisha Wahab, an Afghan American candidate critical of Israel. These losses added to a list of expensive defeats for the organization's backed candidates.

The group retained influence in specific primary contests, particularly in Democratic strongholds. AIPAC-related groups spent approximately $3 million to support Representative Wesley Bell in Missouri. Bell won his House seat on November 3 with more than 81 percent of the vote. The funding helped him defeat former Representative Cori Bush in the primary. A similar strategy in New York saw AIPAC spend about $14 million in 2024 to help George Latimer, who retained his seat on November 3.

Transparency in the group's operations has decreased in recent years. In October, AIPAC announced it would stop endorsing candidates and making direct contributions after this election cycle. Most spending now flows through the United Democracy Project and nearly 50 other political action committees. This structure makes it more difficult for observers to track individual donations and the specific destinations of the funds.

J Street, a Jewish American organization describing itself as pro-Israel and pro-peace, offered a contrasting approach. The group reported on November 4 that it backed more than 200 candidates with over $13 million. J Street targeted candidates who were also supported by AIPAC, focusing on Democrats with moderate views on Israel. A poll commissioned by the organization found that 72 percent of American Jewish voters supported the Democratic Party in the midterms.