Saturday, May. 22, 2021
Did pro-Israel groups donate $28 million to Congressional candidates in 2020?
In the 2020 campaign pro-Israel groups donated $28 million to Congressional candidates. The largest individual Senate recipient, with more than $1 million in donations, was incumbent Republican David Purdue, who lost to the no. 2 recipient, Democrat Jon Ossoff. The other defeated Georgia Republican, Kelly Loeffler, was the no. 3 recipient; her challenger, Raphael Warnock, ranked no. 5.
Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who ran unopposed, ranked 20th, raising $145,877. About 60% of the total went to Democrats, according to tabulations of federal data by Open Secrets.
Barred from directly contributing to campaigns, foreign governments instead court influence through U.S. allies and supporters. Pro-Israel donors include the Republican Jewish Coalition, JStreetPAC and Pro-Israel America PAC, as well as individuals. Pro-Israel donors have given $167 million to 4,989 Congressional candidates since 1990.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Open Secrets Pro-Israel funding for all Congressional candidates in the 2020 election cycle
- Open Secrets Pro-Israel funding for Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle
- Federal Election Commission Who can and can't contribute
- Open Secrets The pro-Israel lobby, a major force on American foreign affairs
- Open Secrets Total pro-Israel donations to Congressional candidates, 1989 to 2020
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