JTA — Rep. Henry Cuellar, one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, declared victory over a progressive in a key Texas Democratic primary that involved nearly $2 million in funds from the AIPAC pro-Israel lobby.
Cuellar’s margin late Tuesday, at 177 votes when all votes were counted, was razor-thin and his opponent, immigration lawyer Jessica Cisneros, was not yet conceding. If Cuellar prevails, it would vindicate for a second time in a week the political action committees affiliated with the pro-Israel powerhouse that have poured millions into elections this year to shore up Israel-sympathetic Democrats.
While Cuellar has aligned closely with AIPAC’s agenda, Cisneros is backed by J Street, the pro-Israel group that is sharply critical of Israeli policies. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Democrat who is stridently critical of Israel, campaigned for Cisneros.
United Democracy Project, a super-PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, spent $1.8 million on the race in Texas’s 28th District, which runs from San Antonio to the Mexican border, most of it on negative ads targeting Cisneros. Super PACs may spend unlimited money backing or opposing candidates but are barred from directly working with a campaign.
Valerie Foushee and Don Davis, candidates backed by United Democracy, scored victories over progressive challengers last week in North Carolina, and the candidate its super PAC backed in an open Pittsburgh area district, Steve...
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