The Tide Is Turning: AIPAC Is Losing Its Grip on the Democratic Party
The latest polling numbers are in, and they’re nothing short of devastating for AIPAC. But for anyone who believes in justice, accountability, and human rights, this is a seismic win for humanity.
According to new data, only 12% of Democrats now say they sympathize more with Israel than with Palestinians. That number plummets even further among younger Democrats. Among those under 50, Palestinians lead by a staggering 57-point margin. Overall, Democrats sympathize with Palestinians over Israel by 43 points. This marks a massive shift from past decades of unquestioning support for the Israeli government.
This isn’t just a data point. It’s a tectonic shift in the political landscape, and one that AIPAC and its allies are scrambling to suppress.
Gillibrand’s Smear Backfires
Just ask Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Last week, she went on WNYC and falsely claimed that Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, supports “global jihad.” That kind of slanderous rhetoric used to go unchallenged. Politicians could repeat Islamophobic lies, smear progressives who defend Palestinian rights, and walk away without consequence.
Not anymore.
Gillibrand faced immediate and widespread backlash. Protesters showed up at her office. Progressive groups, including us, called for her resignation. Even New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned her remarks as ethnic and religious slurs. Gillibrand’s attempt to walk back her comments by claiming she "misspoke" couldn’t contain the firestorm. This wasn’t a gaffe. It was a calculated smear, and voters saw it for what it was.
A New Political Reality
What happened with Gillibrand is a symptom of a much larger shift. For decades, AIPAC has relied on a playbook of fearmongering and dark money to keep Democratic leaders in line. They’ve used Republican billionaire-funded PACs like the so-called “United Democracy Project” to launch attack ads and intimidate critics.
But now that playbook is failing.
When Zohran Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo, despite facing a multimillion-dollar onslaught of Islamophobic, racist attacks, it wasn’t luck. It was proof that Democratic voters are done with politicians who take AIPAC’s money and parrot its propaganda. Mamdani ran unapologetically on a platform of Palestinian human rights and justice. And he won decisively.
AIPAC spent over $100 million in Democratic primaries last cycle, attempting to crush progressives and preserve the status quo. But their money couldn’t stop the shift that’s already happening.
AIPAC Is the New NRA
If this moment feels familiar, it should. AIPAC is starting to look a lot like the NRA just before its collapse. Once feared, now flailing. Public opinion has turned. The old fear tactics aren’t working. And the more they try to smear and silence progressives, the more they reveal how out of touch and desperate they’ve become.
This is a tipping point. But if we want to finish what we’ve started—to make taking AIPAC’s money politically toxic and hold every smear merchant accountable—we need to keep up the pressure.
We’re building a movement to expose AIPAC’s corruption, defeat the politicians who carry their water, and elect leaders who stand boldly for human rights and justice. Without apology.
The tide is turning. AIPAC’s influence is unraveling. Let’s deliver the final blow.
