The repercussions of the passing of the majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to the Democrats in the US midterm elections on November 3 continue.
Especially despite the fact that the pro-Israel lobbying organization in the USA, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), spent more than 30 million dollars, the election of Abdul el-Sayed of Egyptian origin in Michigan as the country's first Muslim senator aroused wide interest both inside and outside the country.
In addition, anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian discourses came to the fore in public opinion polls, especially among young people called "Generation Z".
Despite the increasing critical attitudes towards foreign and Israeli policies among the base of the Democratic Party and on the streets, it stands out that the party leadership, especially Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, maintain their financial ties with the lobby circles.
Political analyzes published after the elections reveal that this situation is among the main factors that deepen the divergence between the party base and the institutional management in Washington.
AIPAC tools and tactics in action
AIPAC, which leads the Israel lobby in the country, claimed in its statement after the elections that 90 percent of the candidates it supported in the elections were successful.
Democrats also hold a significant share in this segment.
The overwhelming majority of Democrats in Congress (close to 90 percent) have received donations from AIPAC and affiliated pro-Israel committees during their careers, according to 2026 data from campaign finance tracking platforms.
Among these names are those who are involved in the decision-making mechanisms in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Although AIPAC claimed in its statement after the elections that it had introduced "dozens" of new names to Congress, when looking at the election results, it is seen that the numbers are much smaller.
While AIPAC has not published a list of names on this issue, names such as Adrian Boafo, Donna Miller and Melissa Bean stand out for receiving millions of dollars directly from AIPAC and affiliated organizations.
Various people who received donations from pro-Israel lobbies other than AIPAC were also elected as members of Congress for the first time.
On the other hand, some names such as Jamie Ager, Eric Jones, Mitchell Berman, who will be in the House of Representatives for the first time as of January, directly rejected AIPAC support.
NDAA could be the first bill that will determine the stance on Israel in the Democrat-controlled Congress
The first test on Israel and Palestine in the Democrat-controlled Congress, which will take office in January, will be about the removal of 3 articles in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill.
The bill, which passed the House of Representatives in July, is currently awaiting Senate approval.
However, discussions are continuing to remove three articles in the bill that expand US-Israel defense relations.
Finally, the letter led by Chris Van Hollen, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and signed by a total of 12 Democratic senators was sent to Congress leaders yesterday.
More than 1 million signatures were collected against Jeffries
The ties of Hakeem Jeffries, who is the current minority leader of the Democrats who won the majority in the House of Representatives and is expected to be elected as the speaker of the House of Representatives as of January, with Israel lobbies, stand out.
According to analyzes published by platforms such as Track AIPAC and Common Dreams, Hakeem Jeffries has received over $1.5 million in support from AIPAC and related groups throughout his career.
One of the most controversial statements of Jeffries, who is known to have established close ties with pro-Israel circles in his Brooklyn-based politics, was his statement that "New York's 6th district is Jerusalem."
Jeffries is one of the key actors in maintaining the lobby line of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives.
On the other hand, more than 1 million people have signed the online petition opposing Jeffries' election as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the new era when the Democrats will be in majority.
Allegation that leading Democrats are imposing Jeffries' leadership
Additionally, Democrat Don Leonard, who was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections held on November 3, published a video on his social media account.
Stating that he met with high-level Democrats, whose name he did not give, Leonard claimed that he received threats that if he did not support the candidacy of Jeffries, who is known for his support for Israel, for the Presidency of the House of Representatives, his "life will turn into hell" and the possibility of re-election in 2028 will disappear.
Schumer is the Democrats' traditional supporter of Israel
Chuck Schumer, one of the most senior senators of Jewish origin in US history and the Democratic leader in the Senate, also plays an important role in shaping the party's foreign policy reflexes.
Schumer has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in official campaign support from Israel lobby networks throughout his career, according to data from election tracking platform Track AIPAC.
Recently published analyses, it is stated that Schumer tried to maintain his alliance with Israel in the Senate despite the base shifts within the party, but in recent years he has had to maintain a more delicate balance due to intra-party pressures.
Schumer is among the strongest names coming forward for the majority leadership in the Democrat-controlled Senate term, which begins in January.
The shadow of the Israel lobby in the Foreign Affairs Committees
Foreign Relations committees, which are the most critical organs in the functioning of the USA that approve or block the country's foreign aid budgets, arms sales and international agreements, are the places where lobby organizations invest the most due to their critical position.
Jeanne Shaheen, leader of the Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Gregory Meeks, leader of the Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stand out among the strong candidates supported by AIPAC.
On the other hand, almost all of the Democratic names in the committees in both houses of Congress have the support of the Israel lobby.
