For the second cycle in a row, AIPAC has surpassed $100 million in federal election spending, according to a Sludge review of campaign finance records.
As recently as 2021, AIPAC had never directly donated to a federal candidate—its PAC made its first donations in January 2022, and that same month it formed its own super PAC. By the 2024 cycle, AIPAC’s nine-figure outlays in elections marked a dramatic increase in its spending for the House and Senate lawmakers who approve billions of dollars in economic and military aid packages for Israel. Now, about three months before Election Day, AIPAC is cementing its status as one of the largest spenders on congressional elections.
The spending comes as a growing number of congressional Democrats are challenging unconditional military aid to Israel, recently casting votes to restrict or condition the flow of U.S. weapons as Israel continues its strikes in Gaza and Lebanon.
AIPAC’s PAC and super PAC, the United Democracy Project (UDP), have combined for more than $104.3 million in political spending so far in the 2026 cycle, according to a review of FEC data. That figure does not include spending to influence voters by allied super PACs like Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) or by a sprawling network of pop-up super PACs that were seeded by UDP or DMFI.
The $104.3 million figure is likely to swell before the midterms are through. As of the end of June, UDP had another $80 million on hand to spend on elections, according to its most recent FEC filing, and AIPAC PAC is likely to continue funneling contributions to lawmakers totaling in the millions of dollars per month.
The nine-figure total includes the most AIPAC has ever spent on a single race: the Aug. 4 Michigan Senate Democratic primary, where UDP has spent $30.6 million supporting Rep. Haley Stevens and opposing Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
AIPAC has notched wins recently on Capitol Hill. In addition to continuing billions of dollars in military aid, last month the U.S. House passed a National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027 that includes a provision expanding U.S.–Israeli defense cooperation, language that AIPAC applauded.
