Former prosecutor Glenn Ivey on Tuesday won the Democratic primary election for a House seat in the Maryland suburb of Washington. pro-israel group Which cost him heavily and a hard defeat for the Progressives who supported his opponent.
Ivey sent in with former Representative Donna Edwards, a progressive veteran seeking a second term in Congress after giving up her seat in an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 2016.
Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District is centered in Prince George’s County, a predominantly Black area that is highly Democratic. Ive’s victory assured everyone a seat in Congress.
“People were convinced by financial attempts to discredit or at least challenge Edwards’ experience,” said Chris Laird, a professor of politics at the University of Maryland. “Such a strategy of questioning the commitment of the person who is following on the basis of his prior exercise, was of interest to the constituencies of this district.”
Notably, massive spending by two pro-Israel Super PACs gave Ivey an edge over Edwards, who takes a more left-wing approach to US-Israel policy than Ivey.
The United Democracy Project, which is associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, spent about $6 million Ivy to choose. And the Democratic Majority Spent More Than $425,000 for Israel choose ive,
A more liberal pro-Israeli group, J Street’s Super PAC, $660,000 . spent To cover expenses for other groups in support of Edwards. Edwards also benefited from the near-universal support of progressive elected officials and groups, and a range of former aides that included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
But the big money in Ivey’s corner eventually took the day, as Edwards’ tenure in Congress gave pro-Israel groups the material to attract.
a TV spot Focusing on Edwards’ perceived ineffectiveness as an MP funded by the United Democracy Project, quoting a Washington Post Editorial Endorsing his opponent in the 2016 Senate primary, Edwards’ office was “notorious for its inattention to constituent services”.
In a district with few voters for whom Israel or Palestine are important subjects, Ivey underestimated the huge help from AIPAC and its allies. He did not focus on his Middle East policy views, including his initial opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, and insisted to HuffPost that he owes nothing to AIPAC.
However, he claimed that the message in his ads was accurate.
“She’s Admitted She Had Problems” [with constituent services]” Ive said. “And that’s a big part of what members of Congress do.”
