AIPAC Claims 234+ Backed Candidates Won in US Midterms

WASHINGTON: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has claimed that more than 234 Democratic and Republican candidates backed by its members won in the 2026 midterm elections. In a statement on X on November 4, the group said counting and results were still pending in several other races. It also congratulated Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, who may become Senate majority leader and House speaker, respectively, when the new Congress is sworn in in January 2027, though each chamber’s party leadership process is still to be completed.
The group said it would keep backing candidates from both parties who support a strong US-Israel partnership. However, the wording of the claim matters: AIPAC did not say it directly ran campaigns for or formally nominated all these candidates, but described them as backed by its members. The statement also gave no full list of winners and no breakdown between Democrats and Republicans.
According to an Al Jazeera report, AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, and affiliated committees spent a total of $1.84 million, of which $3.55 million went to races where their preferred candidates lost. (The two figures in the report are inconsistent with each other, so the numbers should be verified.)
In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers to win a Senate seat. El-Sayed has criticized unconditional US military aid to Israel, while AIPAC-linked groups had backed Haley Stevens, who lost to him in the Democratic primary. In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Senator Susan Collins. AIPAC has faced criticism over its role in US electoral politics and support for Israel, while the group and its supporters say close ties serve both countries’ interests.