AIPAC to end candidate endorsements, direct PAC giving after midterms

United Democracy Project remains unaffected; AIPAC calls 2026 among toughest environments in recent memory

AIPAC’s letter to members on Wednesday, reported earlier by Jewish Insider, said “endorsements, direct PAC contributions, and earmarking will no longer be part of our approach.” The group said it would instead be “recommending contributions to candidates who are worthy of your support” and helping direct donations to such candidates. A spokesperson said the changes apply to the next election cycle.

The policy shift reverses an approach the group adopted five years ago and takes effect after the midterm elections. The report said the website that features endorsed candidates and lets members donate to them will go dark after Election Day.

The change does not affect AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project. Super PACs can spend unlimited amounts on independent expenditures, such as ads. Federal Election Commission filings show the super PAC raised more than $110 million this election cycle and spent more than $80 million through September 30.

By contrast, AIPAC said its PAC gave just over $3 million directly to candidates this cycle, a fraction of what AIPAC members and the group’s affiliated super PAC deliver. Contributions from the PAC to candidates are capped at $5,000 per candidate per election, or $10,000 across a primary and general. The PAC itself is not being wound down, but it will stop making direct contributions to candidates. It will continue giving to leadership PACs and other committees.

The shift comes amid a broad debate within the Democratic Party over Israel. Tensions with Democrats escalated in July, when 103 House Democrats backed an amendment to cut off U.S. aid to Israel; the amendment failed, but AIPAC subsequently removed donation links from its website for more than a dozen House Democrats it had endorsed for re-election who voted for the amendment.

A number of high-profile Democrats have publicly sworn off or pledged not to accept AIPAC campaign contributions. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are among those who have distanced themselves from the group, along with many progressives.

In the letter, AIPAC called 2026 “one of the most challenging environments in recent memory” and warned that 2028 would be just as tough, pointing to opinion polls showing plunging public support for Israel amid the war in Gaza. The change, the letter said, would let AIPAC expand individual giving and build “a more strategic, consequential, and nimble political operation.”

AIPAC spokeswoman Deryn Sousa said in a statement that the group’s “mission and strategy remain the same.” Members gave more than $90 million directly to candidates this cycle, she said, and “organized, direct giving from our members will continue and increase.”

The move drew criticism from J Street, an Israel advocacy group. Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street’s president, wrote on social media that AIPAC “keeping its Super PAC while abandoning its own PAC only doubles down on the dark money politics that helped create its problem in the first place.”

Sousa acknowledged a broad debate within the Democratic Party over Israel, and said AIPAC’s community “is going to be very involved in the fight” to keep U.S. support for the relationship.