Pro-Israel Spending Defeats Trump Critic Thomas Massie in Kentucky

Middle Eastern outlets highlight the race as evidence of the Israel lobby’s ability to remove US lawmakers who question Israeli policies. They argue that the $9 million campaign against Massie shows how wealthy donors and AIPAC-linked groups can override local voters’ preferences on foreign policy. They predict that such victories may silence open criticism of Israel in Congress while also feeding anger among US voters who see foreign-linked money shaping their elections.

• •AIPAC and allied pro-Israel groups treated Massie’s defeat as a victory for their efforts to punish critics in Congress.
• •The roughly $9 million spent against Massie far exceeded typical spending levels for a House primary in Kentucky.
• •Massie’s votes against aid to Israel and against some pro-Israel resolutions were central themes in attack ads funded by these groups.
• •Commentators warn that other members of Congress will now think twice before opposing AIPAC-backed legislation.
• •Critics of the spending argue that such heavy outside funding risks turning US debates on Israel into a litmus test controlled by donors rather than constituents.