Democratic voters seeking a unified condemnation of President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran from party leaders may be disappointed. Instead, many Democratic leaders have focused criticism on the process surrounding the strikes, rather than the strikes themselves.
A Test at the Polls
Upcoming primary elections will serve as a referendum on candidates’ responses to the conflict and their past ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which backed Trump’s strikes. The first key test will be in North Carolina, where Rep. Valerie Foushee is facing a challenge from Nida Allam over her previous connections to AIPAC.
Allam, a Durham County commissioner, has made opposition to the strikes a central theme of her campaign, releasing a video ad condemning the war. “I will never take a dime from defense contractors or the pro-Israel lobby,” Allam said. “I have opposed these forever wars my entire career, and I hope to earn your vote to be your proudly uncompromised pro-peace leader in Washington.”
Foushee too stated her opposition to the war, saying, “I do not support Trump’s illegal war with Iran and will do everything I can in Congress to support War Powers Resolutions to stop it.” Still, Foushee received crucial support from an AIPAC-affiliated super PAC during her 2022 race, and despite publicly distancing herself from the organization this election cycle, a group tied to an AIPAC donor has funded ads on her behalf.
Avoiding the Underlying Issue
Democratic leaders in Congress have largely focused on the constitutional concerns surrounding Trump’s decision to launch military action without congressional approval. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tied the attacks to the Democratic campaign theme of affordability and criticized Trump for failing to seek congressional approval. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer invoked the threat of Iran attaining nuclear weapons and called for a war powers resolution.
This approach allows Democratic leaders to criticize Trump’s actions without directly addressing the question of whether the war itself was justified. J Street’s Hannah Morris argued that Democrats should do more than criticize the process, calling the war “a reckless war by choice.” Claire Valdez, a New York state assembly member, echoed this sentiment, stating that the responses from Schumer and Jeffries “only serves Trump and the war machine.”
Only a few Democratic members of Congress have openly supported the war, including Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Similar dynamics are playing out in Illinois and Maine, where candidates are grappling with the issue of the war and their own positions on U.S. Foreign policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role is AIPAC playing in these primaries?
AIPAC has historically supported candidates who favor a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. While some candidates have publicly disavowed support from AIPAC, groups tied to AIPAC donors have still spent money to support them.
How are Democratic leaders responding to the strikes?
Many Democratic leaders have criticized President Trump’s decision to launch the war without congressional approval, while being vague on whether the war itself was justified.
What is the public’s opinion of the strikes?
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 27 percent of Americans and 7 percent of Democrats approve of the attacks.
As these primary elections unfold, will voters prioritize a condemnation of the war itself, or focus on the constitutional concerns raised by President Trump’s actions?
