Among the “stellar group of pro-Israel Democrats” that DMFI PAC endorsed on Monday is Angela Alsobrooks, the executive of Prince George’s County, Md., who is running for the Senate seat that Ben Cardin, a pro-Israel Jew, is vacating.
Alsobrooks, a Democrat, had raised nearly $12.5 million compared to the some $7 million that former Maryland governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, raised as of June 30, the most recent data provided by the Federal Election Commission.
Alsobrooks stated that she is honored to have the DMFI PAC endorsement.
“In the U.S. Senate, I am committed to protecting and strengthening the strong relationship between the United States and Israel—one built on shared values of peace and democracy,” she stated. “Together, we will fight for a brighter future.”
Polls in August ranged from predicting that Hogan and Alsobrooks were even to the Democrat being up five percentage points. Hogan, who was very popular as a governor, reportedly has up to a 10 percentage point edge with independents in the key battleground state for U.S. Senate control and a state in which some polling shows U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Donald Trump by between 20 and 30 percentage points.
Alsobrooks has called for curbing military aid to Israel. “I do not support an invasion of Rafah and agree with President Biden if Netanyahu does not change course, that the U.S. will need to withhold offensive weaponry,” she told The Washington Post.
Hogan wrote a letter on July 24—the day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress—calling on her to change her position.
“Delaying or seeking to attach conditions to aid for Israel not only puts Israel’s security at risk. It shows weakness and makes it more likely America and our allies will be pulled into war,” Hogan wrote.
“With Israel still under siege from Hamas terrorists, advocating for such an extreme policy is a dangerous position,” he stated. “By aligning yourself with Sen. Chris Van Hollen and other Israel antagonists in the Senate, you are sending a clear message that you cannot be trusted to continue Sen. Cardin’s legacy of supporting this critical alliance.”
“As Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses Congress today, I hope you will renounce your past calls to cut off aid to Israel and support America and Israel’s security,” Hogan added.
More recently, Hogan applauded the University of Maryland’s decision to ban an anti-Israel event on campus planned for Oct. 7.
“University officials are right to reverse their inexplicable decision to allow a major anti-Israel protest on Oct. 7. Antisemitic bigotry has no place in our state, and especially on our college campuses,” Hogan said. “More must be done to ensure Jewish students can feel safe on their own campuses.”
“I will always be proud to stand with our Jewish community and our closest ally, Israel,” he stated.
‘Safe on college campuses’
Alsobrooks responded to Jewish Insider after it had published an article and stated, “I’m the mother of a 19-year-old daughter, so I can tell you that I agree with the parents and families who want nothing more than for all of our kids to be safe on college campuses; to feel safe and to actually be safe.”
“I know the university considered the safety of its students in its decision. I do agree with the decision. I think that Oct. 7 is a solemn day. To have it as a day of remembrance, I think, is important,” she stated to the publication. “I know, too, that the right to protest is foundational to our nation and that right must be protected. But I am unequivocal that any such protest must not call for violence or target any groups of people. Full stop.”
“Democrats have the momentum to take back the majority from extreme MAGA Republicans in the House and to hold our majority in the Senate, and we’re thrilled to support 14 pro-Israel Democrats whose races will decide control of those bodies,” stated Mark Mellman, chairman of DMFI PAC, announcing the endorsements.
“After a convention where Democrats stood with Israel, the hostages, and their families and where anti-Israel protests fizzled—and following a primary season in which DMFI PAC helped oust two anti-Israel Squad members—it’s clear that being pro-Israel is not just wise policy, but it’s also smart politics,” Mellman added. “We look forward to helping this stellar group of pro-Israel Democrats, and all of this cycle’s prior endorsees, defeat their Republican opponents in November.”
DMFI PAC endorsed 13 other candidates, including Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who is running for Senate, and Delaware state senator Sarah McBride, former Michigan state senator Curtis Hertel and Michigan state senator Kristen McDonald Rivet, all running for Congress.
