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Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is pressuring Democratic Party officials to bar super PACs from participating in primary elections, contending that outside spending by wealthy groups undermines the democratic process. In a Sunday post on social media, Sanders specifically targeted the American Israel Public Affairs Committee while condemning the broader influence of outside money in Democratic nomination contests.
Sanders sent an Aug. 8 letter to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin, outlining his concerns. He documented AIPAC and its affiliated organizations spending more than $30 million in Michigan’s Democratic primary to oppose Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and noted plans to spend additional tens of millions supporting Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.
According to Sanders, corporate super PACs across various industries have already spent a record $517 million during this election cycle, surpassing 2024’s previous high. He characterized the situation as particularly troubling because these groups often shift their support to Republican candidates if their preferred Democratic nominee prevails in the primary.
AIPAC responded that it functions as a grassroots membership organization supporting pro-Israel candidates from both parties, while its affiliated United Democracy Project super PAC works to defeat opponents of the U.S.-Israel relationship regardless of party affiliation.
Sanders renewed his call for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision and establish public campaign financing. He emphasized that Democratic Party leadership possesses the immediate authority to prohibit super PAC involvement in primaries without waiting for federal action.
In May, Sanders and Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania introduced the Abolish Super PACs Act, which would cap individual contributions to super PACs at $5,000, effectively eliminating them. Neither AIPAC, Schumer, Martin, Jeffries, Rogers, nor Sanders immediately responded to requests for additional comment.
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