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The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) said it will stop making direct contributions to political candidates and end donations up to set amounts, starting with the November 3 US congressional midterm elections.

The change was announced in a letter sent to members on Wednesday, October 21, and first published by Jewish Insider, and follows a steady decline in US public support for Israel.

Direct candidate support and capped donations to end

In the letter, AIPAC said that from the November 3 congressional midterms onward it would end "direct candidate support" and the donations it makes "up to certain amounts." The committee will no longer back any candidate directly as an organization.

Under its political action committee, AIPAC will also stop its limited direct contributions to candidates, which were capped at 5,000 dollars per election or 10,000 dollars in total across primary and general elections.

The decision does not affect the multi-million dollar contributions AIPAC makes through its super PAC. Federal Election Commission (FEC) figures show the group donated 26.8 million dollars to candidates and other political committees in 2025, making it the country's largest PAC donor.

Democratic unease pushed the strategy change

The decision is seen as a response to growing discomfort among Democrats over Israel's policies, particularly since the war in Gaza, and it drew wide coverage in the US media.

The Wall Street Journal and CNBC both reported that AIPAC changed its election tactics after several prominent Democratic candidates publicly rejected the group's support. Their reports cited rising unease about Israel among Democratic voters over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Senators Cory Booker and Ruben Gallego, California Governor Gavin Newsom and a number of progressive figures were among those who pledged not to accept AIPAC donations after pressure from their own voters.

Tensions between Democrats and the Israel lobby escalated in July, when 103 Democratic members of the House of Representatives backed a motion to cut aid to Israel. The motion was rejected, and AIPAC later removed the lawmakers who voted for it from its website.

Polling shows support for Israel falling

A recent Pew Research Center survey this year found that 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents hold an unfavorable view of Israel, a rate that stood at 53% in 2022 and rose substantially as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepened.

Overall Republican support for Israel continues, but the unfavorable rate among Republicans aged 18 to 49 climbed from 50% to 57% over the past year, according to the survey. It also recorded the share holding a favorable view of Israel falling from 55% in 2022 to 37% in 2026.

AIPAC's revised approach takes effect as candidates prepare for the November 3 congressional midterm elections.

Key takeaways

• AIPAC will end direct candidate support and capped PAC donations from the November 3 US midterms, its letter to members said.
• Capped contributions had run to 5,000 dollars per election, or 10,000 dollars across primary and general elections.
• Multi-million dollar super PAC spending is unaffected; FEC data show AIPAC donated 26.8 million dollars in 2025, the largest PAC donor.
• A Pew survey found 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents hold an unfavorable view of Israel.