Dems called antisemitic by own party after rejecting pro-Israel donations

A trend among Democrats to reject money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), one of the most influential pro-Israel groups in the country, is sparking backlash within the party after an Arizona state representative called the move “campaign virtue-signaling anti-Semitism.”

Democrats withdrew from AIPAC and moved closer to other, more liberal Jewish groups, like J Street, underscoring a shift in the historic bipartisan consensus that both parties took support for Israel as a given. This shifting consensus, particularly within the Democratic Party, became clearer after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists.

While some Jewish groups criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the war that followed the attack, AIPAC supported Netanyahu’s strong response.

AIPAC’s unwavering support for Israel after Oct. 7, 2023, was followed by a coalition of far-left Democrats, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and other members of the “Squad,” who called on lawmakers to “REJECT AIPAC.” Since then, a handful of other Democratic Party lawmakers have also rejected or returned AIPAC money.

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Anti-Israel supporters gather outside the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

“I’m really tired of Democratic candidates announcing that they won’t accept AIPAC money, because that’s apparently the cool thing to say when you’re running now,” Arizona Democratic state Rep. Alma Hernandez said Wednesday.

“Let’s be clear: Most voters have no idea what this means. AIPAC itself does not make contributions to candidates; its supporters, many of whom, like me, are pro-Israel Democrats. I can assure you that most of you who publicly announce this will NEVER receive a cent from any of us.”

Following the cohort of radical congressional Democrats launching their “REJECT AIPAC” coalition, other Democratic Party members in Congress have also taken steps to reject AIPAC money.

Less than a year after his 2024 election victory, financially supported by AIPAC, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., said he would no longer accept donations from AIPAC. Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C., and Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., made the same commitment earlier this year.

Last month, Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., refunded AIPAC’s past donations and pledged to reject any future funding from the group.

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US-Israel Public Affairs Committee Chairman Michael Tuchin introduces Secretary of State Antony Blinken before his speech at the AIPAC Policy Summit at a hotel in Washington, DC (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Hernández had a clear message for any Democrats considering doing the same.

“Many elected officials and candidates have sought support privately over the years, and yes, I have the receipts of your text messages and emails,” Hernandez said in his post on

Rep. Seth Moulton, Democrat of Mass., is among the Democrats who recently rejected or returned donations from the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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“Don’t mask anti-Semitism under the guise of campaign virtue.”