In the midst of a heated Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey, few vocal concerns have arisen over the financial backing provided to Congressman Andy Kim by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-war groups.
Lawrence ‘Larry’ Hamm, an Our Revolution-endorsed candidate and a prominent figure in progressive circles, is facing off against Kim but AIPAC’s involvement has removed a layer of complexity from the political landscape.
AIPAC, known for its staunch advocacy of Israel’s interests in American politics, has committed a substantial amount—$100 million—to influence the outcome of this race and several others across the country.
The focus of their spending has been on candidates who align with more progressive viewpoints, such as Hamm who has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose hate for Palestinian people only needed the excuse supplied by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) has repeatedly paid Mothership Strategies, a digital advertising and fundraising agency based in Washington, DC, to conduct campaigns supporting Kim for the super PAC.
JDCA is one of many dark money groups that have waged independent expenditure campaigns supporting Kim, but no such groups are backing Larry Hamm. There’s very little profit in progressive prinicples like peace.
The injection of such a significant amount of money into the primary race has raised questions about the influence of special interest groups in shaping political outcomes but most New Jersey Democrats are not even asking those questions.
Critics argue that this spending could not only tilt the balance in favor of Kim, a candidate who aligns closely with AIPAC’s positions, but it has the potential to stifle diversity of opinion within the Democratic Party. That leaves voters here with a nominee who appeals to moderate Republicans rather than independents and Democrats who want fair taxes, affordability, Medicare for All, higher wages, and more.
Andy Kim is the candidate of failed government austerity except when it comes to military spending while Larry Hamm represents more assertive efforts to secure peace, progress and prosperity.
Representative Cori Bush has been vocal in warning against what she perceives as a concerted effort by AIPAC and its Republican backers to target Black and brown Democratic incumbents who hold progressive views. This sentiment has been echoed by other progressive leaders who view AIPAC’s involvement as detrimental to the party’s broader goals but New Jersey’s corrupt political bosses don’t care about Black and brown people.
The Democratic contest for New Jersey’s US Senate seat could be said to mirror the battle waged by Pennsylvania Congresswoman Summer Lee—who successfully fended off AIPAC-backed Democratic opponents in her Pittsburgh-based district—but there are few signs of hope that Garden State voters share the wisdom of their neighbors to the west.
A Republican-funded super PAC threatened to spend $100 million against Lee but her grassroots people-powered movement responded loud and clear, earlier this year. Her victory in May was seen as a major defeat for AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
“I am so proud of the multigenerational, multiracial movement we have built in Western Pennsylvania to protect and expand our democracy—it is our greatest defense against the dark money super PACs and corporate lobbies who seek to undermine it,” said Congresswoman Summer Lee. “They have Donald Trump and Nikki Haley’s donors, we have the overwhelming power of the people.”
In New Jersey, supporters of AIPAC had commandeered the political establishment to support candidates who align with their values and priorities. AIPAC’s financial support extends to candidates from various backgrounds, including Democrats and Republicans, who would allow Israel to slaughter children with weapons obtained from the United States.
Larry Hamm does not have a large grassroots people-powered movement because Garden State progressives could not organize a car wash. His dynamic People’s Organization for Progress has assembled large crowds but it has rarely scored political victories. No genuine grassroots leaders proved successful in political contests against such millionaires as Phil Murphy, Jon Corzine, Frank Lautenberg and Bill Bradley and even the political establishment has had difficulty maintaining control against wealthy candidates.
The debate surrounding AIPAC’s involvement in political campaigns reflects broader discussions within the Democratic Party about the influence of money in politics and the role of interest groups in shaping electoral outcomes.
As the race in New Jersey and similar contests unfold, the impact of such large-scale spending by groups like AIPAC should be a topic of significant interest and scrutiny.
Unfortunately, New Jersey progressives have not bothered to ask how big a victory they won when Kim vanquished First Lady Tammy Murphy’s candidacy if the political establishment so easily shifted their support to the Congressman.
The natural choice for genuine progressives on June 4 is Larry Hamm but instead of seizing the opportunity the movement has latched itself to a fleeting friend who allied with their cause when it suited his political interests. In this case, Andy Kim didn’t want his adversary to have an unfair advantage that he desired for himself.
Now, the hawkish Congressman is on track to replace Bob Menendez in the Senate with the same shoot first foreign policy and military adventurism that tge crooked lawmaker is known for.
And the kind of victory that Summer Lee achieved will drown or stay on the other side of the Delaware River.