U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has criticized AIPAC’s reported $22 million in spending in Democratic primary elections in Illinois, describing the move as inappropriate and undemocratic.
In a strongly worded statement, Omar alleged that AIPAC, alongside other political action groups aligned with Republican interests, is channeling millions of dollars through what she described as “shell PACs” to influence Democratic races.
She argued that such financial interventions undermine the integrity of the electoral process, particularly within a party’s internal primaries. According to her, external funding of this magnitude raises concerns about transparency and accountability in U.S. politics.
Omar further linked the spending to broader geopolitical issues, accusing AIPAC-backed efforts of supporting policies she described as aligned with Israel’s “genocidal apartheid regime”—a characterization that remains highly contested in international discourse.
The Minnesota lawmaker has been a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy toward Israel and has repeatedly called for greater scrutiny of lobbying groups and their influence on American elections.
AIPAC has not directly responded to Omar’s latest remarks, but the organization has consistently defended its political involvement as part of its mission to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations and support candidates it views as aligned with that goal.
The issue of political spending by super PACs continues to spark debate in the United States, particularly regarding the role of outside money in shaping electoral outcomes.
