What Happened?

The United Democracy Project (UDP), a super PAC backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), spent more than $53 million in congressional and Senate primaries. The spending crossed party lines, supporting pro-Israel candidates across both parties.

By the end of August, UDP reported total receipts of $109.72 million, disbursements of $83.61 million, and $54.92 million in cash on hand. A super PAC can raise and spend unlimited amounts independently but cannot coordinate directly with any candidate's campaign. That legal structure means the money flows entirely outside the control of the candidates it helps or hurts.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

Outside spending at this scale went to both supporting and opposing candidates in primary races, with results that varied across contests. The UDP describes itself as working to elect candidates who will be "strong supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship in Congress," and its spending reached races in Michigan, Kentucky, Maryland, and Illinois.

Several races show how the money moved through specific contests:

  • UDP spent about $20.14 million against Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, the single largest target in the cycle.
  • Democratic candidate Haley Stevens received the most support at roughly $10.5 million, though she lost the Michigan Senate primary to El-Sayed.
  • About $3.58 million went against Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who lost his primary.
  • $2.46 million was spent against Cori Bush and $2.33 million against Tom Malinowski, both of whom lost their primaries.

Both Sides, Now

AIPAC contributed $30 million to UDP during the election period, including $25 million in September 2025 and $5 million in December, making it the group's largest funder by far. Other donors included the Manzanita Action Fund ($1.6 million), Kraft Group LLC ($1 million), and Portage Capital LLC ($650,000).

Supporters of this kind of outside spending argue it is a legal and protected form of political speech that helps elect candidates aligned with a specific policy priority. Critics contend that concentrating tens of millions of dollars in individual primaries gives well-funded outside groups outsized influence over who voters can choose from in a general election.

Congress sets the rules for campaign finance, and it has not moved to change the laws governing super PAC spending. The current rules stem from court decisions, not legislation, which means any change would require either new laws passed by Congress or further court rulings.

What Happens Next?

Voters and watchdog groups can track the group's spending through Federal Election Commission filings, which are updated on a rolling basis.

No legislation to limit this type of outside spending is currently scheduled for a vote in Congress. Until the rules change, groups like UDP can continue raising and spending unlimited sums in primary races across both parties.

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