Polls will be closing soon in Illinois' primary election amid a massive advertising campaign by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its affiliates. The groups funneled nearly $22 million into four competitive Democratic congressional primaries in the Chicago area through super PACs including United Democracy Project, Elect Chicago Women, and Affordable Chicago Now.

The spending targeted Districts 2, 7, 8, and 9, where open seats or retirements created crowded fields. In the 9th District, covering north Chicago suburbs with sizable Jewish communities, Elect Chicago Women spent $4.4 million supporting state Sen. Laura Fine while airing $1.4 million in attacks against Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. The PACs also targeted progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh with $1.2 million from Chicago Progressive Partnership in the race's final days.

United Democracy Project allocated nearly $5 million to boost Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin in the 7th District. In the 2nd District, Affordable Chicago Now spent $4.4 million aiding Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller. Former Rep. Melissa Bean received $3.9 million from Elect Chicago Women in the 8th District.

Overall outside spending in these races reached $31.4 million, part of nearly $62 million total infusion including direct contributions. Ads avoided Israel topics, focusing instead on issues like affordability, immigration, and opponents' records.

AIPAC's effort aims to elect candidates committed to the U.S.-Israel partnership amid shifting Democratic views on the alliance, fueled by Israel's war in Gaza and recent U.S.-Israel actions against Iran. A person familiar with AIPAC said the goal is to "prevent potential ‘Squad’ members from being elected." The groups require support for unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel.

Candidates like Fine and Bean drew heavily from AIPAC-linked donors, with two-thirds of Fine's receipts and one-third of Bean's from such sources since 2023. Progressives decried the influx as dark money meddling. Biss predicted "backlash" to the spending, stating the groups deem it "unacceptable" for Congress members not to provide a "blank check" to Israel's government. Abughazaleh called it panic over voter rejection of the status quo.

Democrats expressed concerns the interventions could deepen party divides or inadvertently aid anti-Israel candidates, as seen in a recent New Jersey primary. J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, criticized AIPAC's surreptitious tactics. Political analyst David Axelrod warned the moves might intensify primary electorate worries.

The primaries replace incumbents including Reps. Jan Schakowsky in the 9th and Raja Krishnamoorthi in the 8th. Polls close in just a few minutes.