AIPAC has doubled its spending, largely in Democratic primaries, to $67.2m

Super PACs tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have spent more than $5 million in recent weeks in the California race for Eric Swalwell’s former congressional seat, a contest between progressive state senator Aisha Wahab and former Dublin mayor Melissa Hernandez, Politico reported Thursday. The outlays have funded pro-Hernandez ads and attacks on Wahab, who is widely considered the frontrunner in the special election for the East Bay district.

The seat was held for more than a decade by Swalwell, who resigned earlier this year following multiple allegations of sexual assault. Wahab outpaced Hernandez by more than 20 points in both a June primary and a special election to complete the remainder of Swalwell’s term. The two are set to face off again in a runoff later this month, and then again in November.

Politico reported that the recent spending includes $1.2 million from United Democracy Project, which is backed by AIPAC, and $2.1 million from Bold America PAC, which has received significant financial backing from the United Democracy Project. Track AIPAC, which monitors the lobby’s funding of US politicians, reported that AIPAC has spent more than $4.4 million to support Hernandez in the race.

The spending reflects a significant expansion of AIPAC’s political operation. The New York Times reported earlier this week that AIPAC — one of the largest super PACs and the most powerful pro-Israel lobby organization in the US — has doubled its spending, largely in Democratic primaries, to $67.2 million. The organization spent millions to support moderate Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, a race the progressive Abdul El-Sayed ultimately won in what has been described as a defining contest for the party.

Wahab has responded to the negative advertisements by telling voters to come to her with questions about her record. She criticized Hernandez for allegedly dodging debates while “relying on dark money” to support her campaign. “We’re not going to let this race be bought by outside interests,” Wahab said in a video posted on social media.

The Guardian has contacted AIPAC and the campaigns of Wahab and Hernandez for comment.