AIPAC lose bet in Kentucky primary race against Republican critical of Israel

In an unusual case of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee targeting a Republican incumbent, the lobby group lost their bet this week on a congressional race in Kentucky.

The Republican congressman representing the Covington area in northern Kentucky, who has voted against pro-Israel bills in the past, was among the names that AIPAC announced they'd be targeting in this election cycle through their political action committee, the United Democracy Project. Their efforts, however, were dashed following Tuesday's primary race, when Massie got around 80 per cent of the vote.

"AIPAC claims to have spent over US$400,000 against me this election cycle. These were the results tonight," wrote Massie on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday night as he shared the results of his definitive victory.

"After spending $400k+ smearing me, and watching me get 75%+ in the race tonight, they claim they weren't playing in the race. They deserve the ratio here," Massie wrote in another post, in which he shared the lobby group's statement that they were not playing in his race.

"As we've said, AIPAC was "not playing in" Massie's primary. We're shining a spotlight on his atrocious anti-Israel record and making sure every Kentuckian knows that @RepThomasMassie votes with @AOC, @RashidaTlaib, and @IlhanMN against pro-Israel bills," AIPAC wrote on X, seemingly contradicting themselves within the same tweet, as they shared an article by Jewish Insider about their plans to oust Congress members whom they deem to be voting against Israel.

Probably Massie's most high-profile vote against Israel in recent months was in November when he voted against affirming its right to exist, making him the lone Republican not to support the measure. Palestinian American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib voted present. In April 2023, he voted along with 18 progressive Democrats against expanding the Abraham Accords. In 2022, he cast the lone "no" vote in the entire body on a resolution purportedly designed to address antisemitism on the internet, citing concerns over free speech.

Though the congressman has voted with progressives on several votes related to Israel, he is by no means part of the left. On most matters, he is staunchly conservative, with his anti-Israel voting record more likely linked to his isolationist and libertarian leanings. 

AIPAC is reportedly putting around US$100 million this election cycle into working to oust Congress members who have voted against Israel's interests, with Israel's war in Gaza giving them a major fundraising boost. Though they have a long track record of success, a growing number of elected officials have been speaking out against the lobby group's tactics.