Overview
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky said she cannot back a candidate funded by AIPAC or out-of-state Trump donors as she retracted her Jan. 29 endorsement of Donna Miller.
- An outside group, Affordable Chicago Now, has spent about $868,000 on TV ads boosting Miller, who also reported more than $875,000 from donors who have given to AIPAC or its super PAC, United Democracy Project.
- AIPAC and its super PAC have not publicly spent in IL-02 or endorsed Miller, and local reporting describes rumors that pro-Israel forces are backing Affordable Chicago Now, which by law cannot coordinate with campaigns.
- Miller rejected claims she has “MAGA donors,” defended her record, affirmed that Israel has a right to exist, and her campaign removed Schakowsky’s endorsement from its website and Facebook while it remained on Instagram.
- Pro-Israel networks are active across several Illinois contests, with UDP disclosing more than $750,000 for Melissa Conyears-Ervin in IL-07 and Democratic Majority for Israel endorsing Miller and Melissa Bean as Miller leads fundraising in the IL-02 primary to replace Rep. Robin Kelly.