Progressives plan to exert more pressure in Democratic congressional primaries to get the left to coalesce behind one viable candidate rather than split the vote and create an opening for moderates, Axios has learned. Why it matters: This new strategy reflects how progressives are adapting after a bruising Illinois primary night in which they won just one of the four open House races they were targeting. - It was a disappointing result for the left after their shock win in a New Jersey special election last month to replace now-Gov. Mikie Sherrill. - "I think because we had these wins, the progressive movement is like, 'Okay, we're going to win everywhere,'" Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told Axios. - The California Democrat, who endorsed…
The left suffered a virtually total collapse in the Illinois Democratic congressional primaries on Tuesday night — even in races where the AIPAC-backed candidate lost. Why it matters: It's a bad sign for the dozens of insurgent Democrats running in congressional races across the country, both in open seats and as primary rivals to older or more establishment-oriented incumbents. - It's great news for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is most popular among the moderate and mainstream liberal wings of his party. - Most of the Democratic House candidates who have refused to commit to supporting Jeffries for leader or speaker are leftist insurgents. Driving the news: Kat Abughazaleh , a left-wing influencer and…
The pro-Israel group AIPAC notched some much-needed victories on Tuesday night in Illinois, with two Democratic House candidates it backed winning their races. Why it matters: Long a big spender in Democratic politics, AIPAC's reputation within the party's grassroots has never been worse. And yet, with some delicate maneuvering, it proved it can still use its massive campaign war-chest to devastating effect. - The group largely disguised the millions it spent across four Illinois House races, funneling money through PACs with anodyne names like Elect Chicago Women and Chicago Progressive Partnership. - The latter group targeted pro-Palestinian progressives by going after their leftist bona fides — essentially accusing them of being…
Groups linked to AIPAC are employing an eyebrow-raising tactic to sink pro-Palestinian progressives in Democratic congressional primaries: Going after their leftist bona fides. Why it matters: It is a telling indication of what the ruthlessly pragmatic pro-Israel organization sees as a winning message with Democratic voters who have grown increasingly hostile towards their brand. - Rather than running ads through its go-to Democratic political arm, United Democracy Project, AIPAC appears to have employed a web of vaguely named groups targeting specific districts this cycle. - Spokespeople for AIPAC did not respond to requests for comment on this story. Driving the news: Chicago Progressive Partnership — which shares vendors, donors…