Illinois Gov. Pritzker Urges Democratic 'Project 2029' to Pursue Trump Officials and Federal Agents Who 'Broke the Law'
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, as part of a Democratic "Project 2029" agenda, urged pursuing prosecutions of Trump officials and federal agents alleged to have "broken the law." Axios reports he is simultaneously trying to distance himself from past Pritzker Family Foundation donations—about $82,000 to Friends of the IDF and roughly $1.7 million to the American Israel Education Foundation—saying he withdrew support more than a decade ago as AIPAC "leaned more to the right," a claim AIPAC disputes amid polling showing waning Democratic support for Israel and prompting criticism to be aimed at Prime Minister Netanyahu rather than Israel itself.
📌 Key Facts
- Pritzker Family Foundation donations: $82,000 to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (2005–2010) and about $1.7 million to the American Israel Education Foundation (2008–2016), with giving continuing at least through 2020.
- Pritzker says he withdrew his support for AIPAC more than a decade ago, arguing the group "began to lean much more to the right and much more pro‑Trump" and saying AIPAC has "lost its way."
- AIPAC responded that it remains "extremely bipartisan" with "millions of pro‑Israel Democratic members," and noted its polling shows Israel ranks low among Democratic primary voters despite left‑wing online backlash.
- Polling context cited by Axios: a recent NBC survey found 57% of Democratic voters now view Israel negatively, a dynamic Axios says helps explain the political calculus behind Pritzker’s repositioning.
- Axios frames Pritzker’s move as an attempt to thread a needle — breaking with AIPAC over its Trump alignment while focusing criticism on Prime Minister Netanyahu rather than Israel itself — a posture similar to other likely 2028 hopefuls such as Ruben Gallego and Gavin Newsom.
📊 Relevant Data
AIPAC's lobbying expenditures in 2024 totaled $3,324,268, with contributions amounting to $51,848,113 in the 2024 election cycle.
American Israel Public Affairs Cmte Profile: Summary — OpenSecrets
The percentage of Democrats with a positive view of Israel dropped from 34% in 2023 to 13% in 2026.
Democratic voter support for Israel plummets to historic low — Forward
Among voters aged 18-34, negative views of Israel increased from 37% in 2023 to 63% in 2026.
Drop in support for Israel plays out in Democratic primaries — NPR
Jewish Americans constitute approximately 2.4% of the U.S. adult population.
1. The size of the U.S. Jewish population — Pew Research Center
Approximately 70% of Jewish Americans identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party.
U.S. Jews' political views — Pew Research Center
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Details of JB Pritzker’s past financial support for AIPAC‑linked and pro‑Israel organizations via the Pritzker Family Foundation: $82,000 to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces from 2005 to 2010 and about $1.7 million to the American Israel Education Foundation from 2008 to 2016, with giving continuing at least through 2020.
- Pritzker’s current effort to distance himself from AIPAC, saying he 'withdrew his support' more than a decade ago when he believes the group 'began to lean much more to the right and much more pro-Trump,' while now criticizing AIPAC as having 'lost its way.'
- AIPAC’s response insisting it remains 'extremely bipartisan' with 'millions of pro-Israel Democratic members,' and noting that in its polling, Israel ranks low among Democratic primary voters’ concerns despite left‑wing backlash online.
- Polling context that 57% of Democratic voters in a recent NBC survey now view Israel negatively, underscoring the political risk calculus behind Pritzker’s repositioning.
- Axios framing that Pritzker is trying to thread a needle by breaking with AIPAC over its Trump alignment and focusing criticism on Prime Minister Netanyahu rather than Israel itself, similar to moves by other likely 2028 hopefuls like Ruben Gallego and Gavin Newsom.