AIPAC-backed Sarah Elfreth wins primary for open Maryland congressional seat
The pro-Israel group boosted a state senator against a nationally known Jan. 6 Capitol Police officer — and won.
Sarah Elfreth, a state senator backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, won the crowded Democratic primary for an open congressional seat in Maryland on Tuesday.
Elfreth defeated 21 other candidates, including former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, in a race to replace retiring Rep. John Sarbanes in Maryland's 3rd Congressional District. She was the beneficiary of more than $4 million in spending from United Democracy Project, a super PAC funded by AIPAC. Sarbanes' seat, which includes the state capital of Annapolis, is safely Democratic. Elfreth is expected to cruise to victory in the fall.
Elfreth's win is a boon to AIPAC, which has spent millions playing in both Democratic and Republican primaries this cycle. The race for Maryland's 3rd Congressional District was one of UDP's biggest investments to date, after the $5 million it spent in California trying unsuccessfully to block state Sen. Dave Min from securing the Democratic nomination to succeed Rep. Katie Porter.
Dunn's campaign sought to leverage anti-AIPAC sentiment that some Democratic candidates are seizing on this year, particularly in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. In response to AIPAC's threat that it will
drop $100 million to support pro-Israel candidates, a coalition of progressive groups called "Reject AIPAC" launched this cycle to counteract the anticipated barrage.
AIPAC is targeting Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Cori Bush (Mo.) and backing their primary challengers. UDP is also spending against Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), the rare Republican opposing Israel aid.
