Israel took a beating in the US midterms | Judith Levine

Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Senate race by seven points despite expectations that his outspoken criticism of Israel’s policies would hurt him. The result challenges the assumption that candidates must avoid strong criticism of Israel to win, and suggests that stance may have helped him and other Democrats.

The article says Aipac spent nearly $30 million trying to defeat El-Sayed, its biggest investment in a single race, while six Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates won congressional contests. Several highlighted opponents’ Aipac links, though one Brooklyn candidate’s claim of such a link was unsubstantiated. The article also describes varied positions among candidates and pro-Israel groups, including liberal Zionist J Street’s support for Democrat Sherrod Brown and Aipac’s backing of Republican John Husted.