The political influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has “suffered a blow,” particularly among progressive Democrats and their voters, who increasingly view association with the pro-Israel lobby as a “political liability,” according to an author.
In an interview with Press TV Website, Rev. Dr. Don Wagner, a retired Presbyterian clergy member, professor and human rights activist, said the notorious Israeli lobby group is facing growing political setbacks, as its enormous financial investments have failed to secure victories in a series of key US midterm election races, exposing the limits of the lobby’s influence over American politics.
Wagner cautioned, however, that it would be premature to conclude that AIPAC has lost its influence altogether, noting that moderate Democrats and conservative lawmakers continue to support pro-Israel policies and that the lobby may still retain the backing of a majority of elected officials.
“AIPAC was defeated in most of the midterm races, but they are not to be ruled out yet,” Wagner told the Press TV website.
His remarks come as new figures on political spending in the 2026 midterm elections highlight the scale of AIPAC’s financial intervention and the electoral setbacks suffered by several candidates it sought to support.
According to figures cited by various media outlets, AIPAC, its affiliated United Democracy Project (UDP) and associated pro-Israel groups spent approximately $84 million during the 2026 election cycle.
Around $55 million of that amount went toward candidates who ultimately lost their races, representing nearly two-thirds of the reported spending.
The figures, based on an analysis by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, highlight the limits of financial influence in determining electoral outcomes.
Although AIPAC-backed candidates also secured numerous victories, the substantial amount spent on unsuccessful campaigns raises questions about the effectiveness of the lobby’s traditional electoral strategy.
The figures underscore a growing challenge for the pro-Israel lobby: its substantial financial resources and campaign spending do not necessarily translate into electoral victories or guarantee that voters will support its preferred candidates.
Wagner told Press TV website that the key question now is whether progressive Democrats can translate their electoral momentum into actual political leverage in Congress, particularly in confronting pro-Israel lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
He pointed to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries as prominent figures whose continued support for close US-Israeli relations and AIPAC could become a focus of internal pressure from the progressive wing of the party.
“Watch to see if they can replace Sen. Schumer, who is a leading AIPAC-oriented Senator,” Wagner said, adding that progressive lawmakers would also need to challenge the political influence of Jeffries, “also an AIPAC supporter.”
He stressed that the ultimate question is whether they can use their growing congressional presence to halt US military assistance and weapons transfers to Israeli-occupied territories and push for an end to genocide in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon, as well as the war against Iran.
According to Wagner, although congressional action is often slow, the longer-term political prospects are becoming more hopeful for those seeking a fundamental change in Washington’s foreign policy.
“The wheels of justice are slow in Congress, but the longer-term prospects are more hopeful,” he said.
AIPAC’s setbacks also come amid growing divisions within the Republican Party’s political base as well.
Wagner said Republicans remain vulnerable to AIPAC’s influence, particularly through right-wing Christian Zionists, whom he described as a significant component of the MAGA movement.
However, he pointed to emerging generational divisions among Christian Zionists, saying some younger members are increasingly rejecting the mass killing in Gaza and the continuation of endless wars.
“There are signs the younger Christian Zionists are rejecting the genocide and endless wars,” he said.
However, he cautioned that this shift has not yet become the dominant position within the MAGA base.
The MAGA movement, short for “Make America Great Again,” is a political movement built around Trump’s so-called nationalist and populist agenda. Its supporters generally emphasize “America First” policies, national sovereignty, conservative social values, and opposition to costly foreign interventions.
Although the movement includes strong pro-Israel and Christian Zionist factions, some younger MAGA supporters have increasingly questioned US military involvement abroad and Washington’s unconditional support for the Israeli regime.
Wagner also pointed out that Trump’s unwavering support for Israel’s military actions, including the war on Iran and the genocide in Gaza, contributed to the political backlash reflected in progressive Democratic victories.
He linked the consequences of these policies to growing economic difficulties and the financial pressures facing ordinary Americans.
“Trump’s support of the Gaza genocide and war on Iran was definitely a negative factor in the progressive Democratic victories, as these policies have contributed to the economic downturn and looming financial crisis,” he said.
Wagner further noted that the Democratic victories were driven primarily by growing public anger over corruption within the Trump administration and the worsening economic situation, rather than foreign policy alone.
He highlighted that Trump’s family members and close associates are profiting from military contracts and described the administration’s so-called Board of Peace as a vehicle for further profiteering and continued atrocities.
“The leading factors in the Democratic victories were, first, the corruption of the Trump administration, which includes the Trump family and close friends getting rich off the military contracts and the corrupt Board of Peace, which is a cover for more genocide,” he said.
He identified the economic crisis, which is increasingly affecting working-class Americans, the middle class and low-income households, as another major factor behind the election results.
Wagner also pointed to a growing divide between public opinion and the positions of establishment Democrats, explaining that polling over recent months had consistently shown majority support among Democratic voters for cutting military aid to the Israeli regime and ending the war against Iran.
Nonetheless, he said, some moderate Democratic senators and representatives remained heavily influenced by AIPAC despite public opposition to unconditional military assistance to Israel.
“Again, there are moderate Democratic Senators and Representatives who are still under the spell of AIPAC, and they do not represent the will of the people,” he said.
According to Wagner, the newly elected progressive lawmakers will face the challenge of turning public discontent into concrete legislative action after taking office in January.
He also called on grassroots organizers to intensify pressure on Congress to end military support for Israel and bring the Gaza genocide and war against Iran to an end.
While Democratic control of both chambers of Congress could provide an institutional check on Trump and AIPAC, Wagner cautioned that meaningful change would take time.
“Clearly, Democratic control of both houses of Congress will serve as a check on Trump, AIPAC, etc., but it will take time for Congress to investigate the corruption and pass legislation to end the genocide and the war on Iran,” he noted.
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