AIPAC Money Fails: Pro-Israel Candidates Lose NY Primaries

When the people speak, foreign money walks. That is the clear message from Tuesday's Democratic primaries in New York, where voters rejected candidates backed by the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC. Two pro-Israel politicians lost their seats, proving that no amount of foreign lobby cash can buy the people's trust. For Zambia, this is more than American drama. It is a powerful reminder that sovereignty belongs to the people, not to foreign interests with deep pockets.

How AIPAC-Backed Candidates Lost the People's Vote

The Jewish Democratic Council of America, or JDCA, admitted that two of their endorsed candidates lost on Tuesday because of their support for Israel. Dan Goldman went down in New York's 10th District. Adriano Espaillat fell in the 13th. Both were backed by pro-Israel forces. Both were shown the door by voters who had enough of foreign agendas dictating domestic politics.

But the JDCA still found reason to celebrate. Seven of their endorsed candidates won across New York. Halie Soifer, the CEO of JDCA, released a statement praising the victories.

New Yorkers made their voices heard tonight, and we are pleased that seven of our endorsees won.

Soifer named the winners: Representatives Suozzi, Gillen, Meng, Torres, Latimer, Riley and Mannion. She praised them for sharing Jewish values and said they would serve as a check on Donald Trump and the Republican Party's extreme, authoritarian agenda in Congress.

Still, Soifer could not hide the sting of defeat. She expressed deep gratitude to Goldman and Espaillat, then admitted what everyone already knew.

We regret that Israel became a divisive issue in these races, especially in NY-10.

The JDCA promised to keep backing candidates who support the US-Israel relationship.

What Made New York's 10th District a Battleground Over Foreign Influence?

In the 10th District, the race between Goldman and Brad Lander became a fight over foreign influence in American politics. Lander, a former city comptroller backed by democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, made Goldman's AIPAC funding the central issue. Goldman denied taking AIPAC money. The voters did not seem to care about his denials. They cared about where his loyalties truly lay.

During a June 1 debate, Goldman tried to downplay the issue. He claimed that Israel is not the most important issue in this district. He was wrong. It was exactly the issue that cost him the primary.

Both men call themselves Zionists. But Lander branded himself a liberal Zionist, drawing a clear line between his position and Goldman's unabashedly pro-Israel stance. Lander also cut ties with the Democratic Socialists of America after the group participated in a pro-Palestinian rally on October 8, 2023, just one day after the Hamas attack on Israel.

On October 8th, they advertised a rally that I thought was heinous, that spoke about Hamas in ways that I just thought were vile, and I could not continue to be a member.

In the 13th District, Espaillat lost to Darializa Avila Chevalier, another Mamdani-backed democratic socialist who organized pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

The Coffee Shop Incident That Exposed the Ugly Truth

Hours before the primary, the tension turned personal and ugly. A coffee chain called Poetica Coffee banned Goldman from their shops in an extreme Instagram and Facebook post. The chain wrote that they don't serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers after Goldman visited with his child.

The posts attacked Goldman's support for Israel and mocked him.

We see that you stopped by our coffee shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn't taste like genocide juice?

They also refunded his purchase, adding,

We don't need your money (it's probably coming from AIPAC anyways).

The situation escalated fast. Poetica Coffee received death threats by email. Instead of backing down, the chain doubled down on antisemitic rhetoric, posting what many recognized as dog whistles. The US Justice Department announced on Monday that it has opened a probe into Poetica Coffee over the incident.

Mamdani called Goldman's response extremely gracious. Radio host Ari Hoffman put it bluntly on social media:

This story proves that no matter how left you are, you can never be left enough for the radicals.

Why Zambia Must Pay Attention to This American Story

You might ask why a story about New York primaries matters to Zambia. The answer is simple and it is rooted in our own hard-won sovereignty. What happened in New York is happening everywhere. Foreign lobbies with massive budgets try to shape domestic politics in sovereign nations. They pump money into campaigns. They buy influence. They push agendas that serve foreign interests, not the people.

In Zambia, we know this game too well. Western powers and foreign corporations have long tried to dictate our mining policies, our agricultural decisions, and our political direction. They fund NGOs that lecture us about governance while their own democracies rot from the inside. They pressure our leaders to put foreign interests above Zambian interests. Zambia for Zambians is not just a slogan. It is a principle that our ancestors fought for, and it is a principle we must defend today.

The New York primaries show that even in the United States, the people are fighting back against foreign influence. When voters realized that AIPAC money was trying to buy their representation, they said no. When a politician's loyalty to a foreign cause became the central issue, the people chose candidates who would put their district first.

This is the spirit of sovereignty. This is what Zambia must protect. Our copper, our land, and our political future belong to Zambians. No foreign lobby, no international elite, and no Western institution should tell us how to run our country. The people of New York reminded the world that democracy means the people decide, not the money.

What Does the New York Primary Result Mean for Foreign Lobbying?

The result sends a clear signal that foreign lobby money is not invincible. When voters are informed about who funds their politicians and what foreign agendas those politicians serve, they can reject them at the ballot box. AIPAC's influence took a hit in New York, and other foreign lobbies around the world should take note.

Can Foreign Money Buy Elections?

Not always. The New York primaries proved that informed voters can overcome foreign lobbying dollars. Goldman and Espaillat had institutional backing and pro-Israel funding, yet they still lost. The people's voice, when organized and motivated, is stronger than foreign cash.

What Should Zambia Learn From the US Primary Results?

Zambia should learn that transparency about foreign funding in politics empowers voters. When people know who is pulling the strings, they can cut them. Zambian politicians who serve foreign interests over national interests will eventually face the judgment of the people, just as Goldman and Espaillat did in New York.