Why It Matters
United Democracy Project (UDP), the Super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), has spent millions of dollars opposing Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, making him its largest opposition target this election cycle.
The committee has also intervened in Democratic congressional primaries and a Republican House primary, supporting candidates aligned with its priorities and opposing candidates who have criticized Israel or challenged U.S. support for the country. UDP describes itself on its website as a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and independents who believe the U.S.-Israel partnership benefits both countries and who seek to elect congressional candidates committed to strengthening that relationship.
Its involvement in Michigan is particularly significant because El-Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), whom UDP supported during the Democratic primary. The organization subsequently resumed campaigning against El-Sayed as he faces Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.
What It Spent
UDP's supplied spending data identifies approximately $53.91 million in outside spending during the election cycle. The committee's largest reported opposition spending was $20.63 million against Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race, where he faces Rogers on Nov. 3.
On the supporting side, UDP reported $10.52 million supporting Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, $5.73 million supporting Democrat Adrian Boafo in Maryland's 5th Congressional District, $4.97 million supporting Democrat Melissa Conyears-Ervin in Illinois' 7th Congressional District, and $579,000 supporting Republican Ed Gallrein in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District.
Beyond El-Sayed, UDP's largest reported opposition targets included Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), against whom the committee spent $3.58 million in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District; Democrat Cori Bush, who faced $2.46 million in opposition spending in Missouri's 1st Congressional District; and Republican Tom Malinowski, who faced $2.33 million in opposition spending in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. They all lost their primaries.
The committee also reported spending to support Democrat Melissa Hernandez in California's 14th Congressional District and Democrat Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) in Missouri's 1st District, and to oppose Democrat Aisha Wahab in California's 14th District and Democrat Jason Friedman in Illinois' 7th District. The supplied totals do not include the latest amounts for those candidates.
Among the largest individual transactions identified in the supplied records were $3.84 million paid to Targeted Platform Media LLC on July 28, $3.83 million to the same firm on July 21, and $3.48 million on July 14, all opposing El-Sayed. UDP also reported $2.33 million on June 16 supporting Boafo. Between June 30 and July 28, the committee reported seven payments totaling approximately $17.92 million opposing El-Sayed. These transactions are included in the candidate spending totals and should not be counted again.
Who Funds It
UDP has reported $112.82 million in receipts, $85.06 million in disbursements, and $56.57 million in cash on hand through Oct. 14. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is the largest organizational contributor identified in UDP's itemized filings, having contributed $30 million. Major individual contributors include Paul Singer, who gave $2.5 million; Haim Saban, who contributed $2 million; and Blair Frank and Marc Rowan, who each contributed $1.5 million.
The supplied financial data also identifies $108.56 million in contributions categorized as individual contributions. That classification does not necessarily exclude organizational donors because the FEC's reporting categories can include contributions from organizations in itemized individual-contribution records. The figure therefore should not be interpreted as money contributed exclusively by natural persons.
Separate from its independent expenditures, UDP reported approximately $14.13 million in contributions to other political committees during the cycle. The largest identified recipients were Elect Chicago Women (ECW), which received $4.01 million; Bold America, which received $2.80 million; EDW Action Fund, which received $2.35 million; and Palmetto Action, which received $2 million.
The Ad Buy
Among the largest individual transactions identified in the supplied records were $3.84 million paid to Targeted Platform Media LLC on July 28, $3.83 million to the same firm on July 21, and $3.48 million on July 14, all opposing El-Sayed. UDP also reported $2.33 million supporting Boafo on June 16. Between June 30 and July 28, the committee reported seven payments totaling approximately $17.92 million opposing El-Sayed.
UDP has relied heavily on Targeted Platform Media LLC to handle advertising placements in congressional races in Michigan, Illinois, Maryland and California. MVAR Media LLC has handled production work associated with its Michigan Senate campaign. The committee's advertising has focused on candidates' positions on Israel, U.S. foreign policy and issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship. In Michigan, its messaging has criticized El-Sayed's positions on Israel and his initial response to the shooting and vehicle-ramming terrorist attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield in March.
NBC News reported Oct. 9 that UDP had resumed campaigning in the Michigan general election through mailers targeting El-Sayed. Jewish Insider reported the same day that the mailers reached approximately 130,000 Jewish voters in Michigan and highlighted El-Sayed's response to the Temple Israel attack.
Other Spenders in the Same Races
Other major outside-spending groups have also invested heavily in Michigan's Senate race. The supplied figures show SLF PAC spending $40.16 million opposing El-Sayed and $1.57 million supporting Rogers, while WinSenate spent $26.81 million opposing Rogers and $9.71 million supporting El-Sayed. No Going Back PAC Inc. spent $24.69 million opposing El-Sayed and $5.32 million supporting Rogers.
In Maryland's 5th Congressional District, Protect Progress spent $5.26 million supporting Boafo, while AMERIPAC: The Fund for a Greater America spent $600,000 and Rolling Sea Action Fund spent $250,000 supporting him.
You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.
Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article
