Pro-Israel AIPAC Joins Congressional Race in Illinois’ Ninth District

The American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) has sent at least two emails supporting Illinois Ninth Congressional District candidate Laura Fine and attacking opponents Kat Abughazaleh and Daniel Biss to its members. 

AIPAC sent a Sept. 15 email to donors encouraging them to donate money to the campaign of State Senator Fine, who AIPAC referred to as the only true pro-Israel candidate in the race. The email referred to her opponents Daniel Biss and Kat Abughazaleh as “dangerous detractors.” 

Another AIPAC email sent Aug. 21, posted Oct. 20 on Instagram by Abughazaleh, referred to Abughazaleh as an “anti-Israel detractor” who poses a threat to Israel. 

The email ends with an endorsement of Fine. 

“We have a fighter of our own,” the email reads. “Illinois State Senator Laura Fine.”

Fine said that she has met with AIPAC as well as Democratic Majority for Israel, according to the Jewish Insider.

“Senator Fine has not received and is not seeking endorsement from J Street, AIPAC, or any Jewish organization,” Fine’s campaign wrote in an email to the Phoenix. “She’s deeply aware of the diversity of political views in the Jewish community and in this district at large. The Senator’s priority is to represent all constituents, bridge divisions, continue standing up against antisemitism wherever it may appear, and continue to represent all members of her district.”

AIPAC is the largest pro-Israel PAC in the U.S., according to their website. In 2024, they spent $51,848,113 in contributions to candidates, party committees, other PACs and outside spending groups, making them the 18th largest contributor in the United States, according to Open Secrets. 

In 2024, AIPAC donated $866,425 to the Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, $618,530 to the Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Johnson and $562,593 to Texas Senator Ted Cruz, according to Open Secrets. 

Despite endorsing Fine in an email to donors, AIPAC doesn’t feature Fine on their website.

The website does feature other Illinois politicians including Democratic Senate candidates Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democratic congressional candidates Brad Schneider, Mike Quigley and Nikki Budzinski and Republican congressional candidates Mike Bost, Mary Miller and Darin LaHood. 

When Israel launched their surprise attack against Iran July 13, Fine posted on X where she supported Israel’s attacks on Iran. 

“I support Israel’s right to defend itself against an existential threat from Iran, whose regime leads a terror empire and violates nuclear nonproliferation commitments. Diplomacy has failed to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions. If Israel’s actions delay Iran’s nuclear breakout, we are all safer. Peace will come when Iran abandons its nuclear weapons pursuit and dismantles its terror networks,” Fine wrote. 

Abughazaleh, who was called dangerous in AIPAC emails, posted on X the same day opposing Israel’s attacks against Iran and Iran’s attacks against Israel.

“If you’re like my opponents and only condemning one side,” the post read. “I hope you find a spine and some moral clarity.”

Abughazaleh announced her candidacy March 24. She started her career as a journalist at non-profit organization Media Matters for America where she covered former Fox political talk show host Tucker Carlson, The Phoenix reported. 

Abughazaleh’s father is Palestinian, and she featured a keffiyeh in the background of her campaign announcement video. She said her grandparents survived the 1948 Nakba and had to flee to Kuwait from Palestine, The Phoenix reported. 

She has been a vocal critic of Israel, demanded arms be embargoed to the nation and referred to Israels actions in Gaza as a genocide. 

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory declared Israel had committed genocide in Gaza and urged Israel and all States to end the genocide and punish those responsible.

Daniel Biss announced his candidacy May 15 Illinois Ninth Congressional District. 

He has served as the Mayor of Evanston since 2021 and was also named as a “dangerous detractor” in AIPAC emails. He represented Illinois’ 9th District in the State Senate from 2013 to 2019 Illinois’ and 17th District in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. He was succeeded by Fine in both of these positions. 

Biss — whose mother is Israeli — removed his running mate Carlos Ramirez-Rosa due to his support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) during his 2017 gubernatorial campaign, as reported by The Associated Press.

BDS is a movement started in 2005 focused on boycotting, divesting from and sanctioning Israeli institutions and companies engaged in violations of Palestinian human rights.

Though Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and many other U.S. cities passed ceasefire resolutions, Evanston has not. 

When the Evanston Council of Equity and Empowerment Commission, a commission tasked with promoting equality in Evanston, proposed a ceasefire fire resolution Nov. 30 2023, it was not adopted. 

“I have found it disorienting and troubling to see some people and organizations address this situation without an unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’s murderous attacks.” Biss said in a statement Oct. 12 2023. “Such a condemnation does not limit one’s ability to criticize Israel.”

“When it comes to foreign policy, Senator Fine’s values remain dignity, security, and peace for all peoples in the region, and for Jewish and Palestinian communities here in Illinois,” Fine’s campaign wrote in an email to the Phoenix. “Senator Fine believes Israel has the right to defend itself against existential threats. She also believes in a two-state solution, which unapologetically includes a safe and secure Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”

Abughazaleh and Biss did not respond for comment.