P
ro‑Israel donors have selected a candidate to replace Rep. Danny Davis in Chicago. Jason Friedman, one of 18 contenders in the upcoming Democratic primary, has surged ahead in fundraising. His campaign reported over $1.5 million in contributions in its October FEC filing, with roughly $140 000 coming from major pro‑Israel donors such as the AIPAC‑affiliated PAC and its super‑PAC, United Democracy Project (UDP). Those groups spent more than $100 million last year to defeat two prominent critics of Israel in Congress, signaling that Friedman’s race is now on AIPAC’s radar.

    Friedman, a former Chicago real‑estate magnate, launched his bid in April, before Davis announced his retirement. From 2019 to 2024 he chaired government affairs for the Jewish United Fund, a charity that promotes pro‑Israel narratives. While he has not made Israel a central theme of his platform, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs, a pro‑Israel PAC, hosted a meeting with him last month.

    AIPAC has not publicly endorsed a candidate, but more than 35 of its donors have contributed to Friedman’s campaign. Seventeen of those donors also gave to UDP, and eight gave to both. Since 2021, the Friedman‑aligned donors have donated nearly $2 million to AIPAC and UDP combined—over $1.6 million to UDP and $327 000 to AIPAC. They have also given $85 500 to DMFI PAC (the AIPAC offshoot Democratic Majority for Israel) and $115 000 to To Protect Our Heritage PAC, which backed another contender, City Treasurer Melissa Conyears‑Ervin. Neither the Conyears‑Ervin campaign nor the PAC responded to requests for comment.

    Friedman’s campaign focuses on confronting former President Donald Trump on health care, education, the economy, and other issues. His website lists support for strong unions, expanded education access, gun‑violence reduction, and job training. Prior to his real‑estate career, he worked in politics for former President Bill Clinton and for Senator Dick Durbin on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

    Pro‑Israel donor Larry Hochberg, a former AIPAC national director, told The Intercept that he backs Friedman because he believes Friedman is a good candidate. Hochberg, who sits on the board of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and co‑founded the European advocacy group ELNET, has given $10 000 to AIPAC, $5 000 to DMFI PAC, nearly $30 000 to To Protect Our Heritage PAC, and $1 000 to Friedman’s campaign in September. He declined to elaborate further.

    Former Rep. Marie Newman, who was ousted from Congress in 2022 and had previously been targeted by pro‑Israel donors, criticized Friedman for the influx of cash. “If you receive money from AIPAC donors who believe in genocide and are funding genocide, then you believe in genocide,” Newman said. She is supporting gun‑violence activist Kina Collins, who ran against Davis three times and narrowly missed unseating him in 2022.

    Friedman faces 17 other Democratic challengers, including Collins, Conyears‑Ervin, former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, former Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, immigrant advocate Anabel Mendoza, organizer Anthony Driver Jr., ER doctor Thomas Fisher, and former antitrust attorney Reed Showalter, who has pledged to refuse AIPAC money. Davis, who received backing from a dark‑money group aligned with Democratic leaders in his 2022 race, has endorsed state Rep. La Shawn Ford to replace him.

    The Gaza conflict has deepened divisions among Chicago Democrats. Last year, the City Council narrowly passed a ceasefire resolution, with Mayor Brandon Johnson casting the tie‑breaking vote. Friedman, as chair of government affairs for the Jewish United Fund, signed a letter to Johnson from the group and Chicago’s Jewish leaders expressing “appall” at the outcome. His campaign has not clarified its stance on U.S. military aid to Israel or the war in Gaza.

    At least 17 Friedman donors have contributed to UDP, totaling over $1.6 million, including nine six‑figure donors and seven five‑figure donors. Twenty‑nine donors have given to AIPAC PAC, with eight overlapping UDP donors. Notable supporters include gaming executive Greg Carlin ($255 000 to UDP, $3 500 to Friedman), investor Tony Davis ($250 000 to UDP, $3 500 to Friedman), and attorney Steven Lavin ($125 000 to UDP, $7 000 to Friedman). Attorneys Douglas Gessner and Sanford Perl, former partners at Kirkland & Ellis, have given $105 000 and $100 000 to UDP, and over $50 000 and $44 000 to AIPAC PAC, respectively, and small amounts to Friedman’s campaign. Three other donors—biotech executive Jeff Aronin, marketing founder Ilan Shalit, and Vivid Seats co‑founder Jerry Bednyak—each gave $1 million to UDP and also contributed to Friedman’s campaign.

    Newman reiterated that accepting money from donors who support a far‑right government committing genocide raises questions about a candidate’s values. Friedman’s campaign has seen several six‑figure fundraising spikes in June and September, likely triggered by targeted emails from supportive political groups. AIPAC declined to comment on whether it sent such an email. Friedman’s fundraising has largely come from finance and real‑estate sectors, with a quarter of his donors employed in those industries. He has also invested $36 750 of his own money into his campaign.