Pritzker Distances Himself From AIPAC After Years of Pro‑Israel Giving
Axios reports that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, widely seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, is now attacking AIPAC and refusing to detail how much he donated to the group after years of significant pro‑Israel giving through his family foundation. Tax filings reviewed by Axios show the Pritzker Family Foundation gave $82,000 to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces between 2005 and 2010 and about $1.7 million to the AIPAC‑affiliated American Israel Education Foundation from 2008 to 2016, with contributions continuing until at least 2020, even though Pritzker says he stepped away from the foundation in 2017. Pritzker, who is Jewish, now says he "withdrew his support" from AIPAC more than a decade ago when it "began to lean much more to the right and much more pro-Trump," and tells reporters the group has "lost its way" as he focuses most of his criticism on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rather than Israel itself. AIPAC counters that it remains "extremely bipartisan" with "millions of pro-Israel Democratic members" and argues that in races where it has polled, Israel ranks relatively low among Democratic primary voters’ concerns, even as online activists try to make AIPAC politically radioactive. The story comes as polling, including a recent NBC survey finding 57% of Democratic voters now view Israel negatively amid the Gaza war, shows a sharp shift in the party’s base that is forcing national hopefuls like Pritzker, Ruben Gallego and Gavin Newsom to recalibrate their relationships with pro‑Israel lobby groups.
📌 Key Facts
- Axios obtained tax records showing the Pritzker Family Foundation donated $82,000 to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces from 2005–2010 and roughly $1.7 million to the AIPAC‑affiliated American Israel Education Foundation from 2008–2016, with giving continuing to at least 2020.
- Pritzker’s team declined to tell Axios how much he personally gave to AIPAC but says he "withdrew his support" more than a decade ago when he believed AIPAC became "much more to the right and much more pro-Trump."
- AIPAC spokesperson Patrick Dorton says the organization is "extremely bipartisan" with "millions of pro-Israel Democratic members," and argues Israel is not a top concern for most Democratic primary voters in its polling.
- An NBC poll cited in the piece found 57% of Democratic voters now view Israel negatively, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with Israel’s conduct in Gaza and shaping Democratic politicians’ stance toward AIPAC.
- Axios notes that Pritzker is one of several likely Democratic presidential hopefuls, alongside figures like Sen. Ruben Gallego and Gov. Gavin Newsom, who have recently moved to distance themselves from AIPAC under pressure from the party’s left wing.
📊 Relevant Data
Jewish Americans constitute approximately 2.4% of the U.S. population but represent about 6% of the members of the 119th Congress, with 34 Jewish members out of 535 total lawmakers.
Congress is now 3 times more Jewish than the United States as a whole — The Jewish Federations of North America
In the U.S. Senate, Jewish senators make up 9% (9 out of 100), compared to Jews comprising about 2.4% of the overall U.S. population.
Congress Has Higher Percentage of Jews Than General U.S. Population, Once Again — Haaretz
Among Democratic voters, unfavorable views of Israel have increased significantly among younger age groups, with 71% of Democrats aged 18-49 holding unfavorable views in 2025, up from 62% previously.
Support for Israel continues to deteriorate, especially among Democrats and young people — Brookings Institution
Pro-Israel interest groups have contributed over $230 million to President Donald Trump since 2020, illustrating significant financial influence in Republican politics.
The Trump Administration — Track AIPAC
The Democratic Party's shift away from support for Israel is linked to demographic changes, including increasing diversity and declining religiosity among its voter base.
Danger Zone: Collapsing Support for Israel Among Democrats — Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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