Democratic Majority for Israel PAC is making an early play in the 2026 Senate landscape, endorsing four Democrats across critical battlegrounds, a move that, in several races, helps shore up candidates facing mounting pressure from Israel-skeptical progressives.
The group is backing Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Chris Pappas (D-NH), and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, four contenders with long-standing pro-Israel credentials.
But Craig and Stevens head into more contentious primaries. In Michigan, Stevens faces state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed, two candidates aligned with the party’s vocal left flank on Gaza who have publicly rejected support from pro-Israel organizations and criticized Stevens’s positions. This is the first time a pro-Israel organization has stepped into the contest. AIPAC’s political arms, its PAC and super PAC, both of which backed Stevens in past cycles, have so far stayed on the sidelines.
In Minnesota, Craig is contending with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive favorite backed by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ed Markey (D-MA). Cooper and Pappas, both moderates with consistent pro-Israel stances, are widely viewed as front-runners in their respective primaries.
“Chris Pappas, Haley Stevens, Angie Craig, and Roy Cooper are battle-tested leaders who know how to win tough races, hold the Trump administration accountable, and deliver real results for working families,” DMFI PAC Chairman Brian Romick said. He added that each candidate has “stood firm against extremism, antisemitism, and efforts to undermine America’s alliances,” describing the quartet as “champions of the U.S.-Israel relationship.”
Stevens said she was “a proud pro-Israel Democrat,” calling the endorsement a reflection of her commitment to stand with democratic allies, confront antisemitism, and support working families. If elected to the Senate, she said, she would work to “support Israel’s security, ensure the ceasefire holds in Gaza, and deliver for Michiganders.”
The announcement comes as fresh clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas threaten the fragile Gaza ceasefire that President Donald Trump negotiated, amid accusations of violations from both sides and delays by Hamas in returning the remaining hostages. The flare-ups have cast doubt on the agreement since it took effect on Oct. 10.
The PAC’s move lands at a moment when Democrats are confronting one of the deepest internal rifts over Israel in decades. The war in Gaza has disrupted long-held alliances within the party and shifted attention toward the humanitarian toll on Palestinian civilians, prompting a growing number of lawmakers to reconsider the U.S. posture toward Israel.
That divide has surfaced in Congress, where dozens of Senate Democrats voted this summer to halt a proposed sale of 20,000 automatic rifles to Israel’s national police, and nearly as many opposed a separate package of heavy munitions. The pushback included several senators facing competitive 2026 reelection fights, underscoring how politically fraught the issue has become.
On the campaign trail, progressives are using the moment to distance themselves from traditional pro-Israel groups. In safe Democratic districts, left-leaning challengers are rejecting AIPAC support altogether and framing its involvement as a liability for incumbents. In California, Angela Gonzales-Torres is refusing contributions from the group as she takes on Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), and in St. Louis, protests dogging Rep. Wesley Bell suggest that the AIPAC-backed victory that helped him oust then-Rep. Cori Bush in 2024 could complicate his rematch.
ISRAELI STRIKES IN GAZA THREATEN PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE DESPITE TRUMP CEASEFIRE DEAL
For pro-Israel groups, none of this is unexpected. Their current playbook was shaped in 2021, when Nina Turner, a prominent Bernie Sanders ally, was favored to win a Cleveland-area House primary. DMFI spent roughly $2 million highlighting Turner’s criticism of President Joe Biden, while an AIPAC-aligned committee added another $500,000 to boost opponent Shontel Brown. Brown’s upset win became a defining case study: intervene early, define the stakes, and stop anti-Israel candidates before they gain traction.
That same approach is now extending into statewide contests, and Thursday’s endorsements signal how aggressively DMFI plans to engage. “DMFI PAC is proud to support these exceptional candidates, and we’re firmly committed to helping them win their races,” Romick said.
