Democratic Majority for Israel

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Democratic Majority for Israel
DMFI Logo 2.png
FoundedJanuary 29, 2019; 2 years ago (2019-01-29)
Legal status501(c)(4) organization
President, Chief Executive Officer
Mark Mellman
Co-chairs
Ann Lewis
Todd Richman
Websitedemmajorityforisrael.org

The Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) is a centrist[1][2][3] or left-leaning[4] advocacy group that supports pro-Israel policies among the Democratic Party's political leaders. Its president and CEO is pollster Mark Mellman. DMFI opposed Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic presidential caucuses in Iowa and endorsed Joe Biden in March 2020.

History[]

DMFI was founded on January 29, 2019. The founding came in reaction to polling showing that Democrats and younger voters are less supportive of Israel than previous generations.[5] Mellman and other Democratic Party strategists started the organization.[6] In July 2019 the group formed a political action committee, DMFI PAC, which supports pro-Israel Democratic candidates.[6][7]

2020 Democratic primary season[]

DMFI PAC endorsed Joe Biden for president in March 2020 and ran online ads supporting him.[8][9] Through February 2020, DMFI PAC had spent money only in Iowa.[6] DMFI PAC endorsed more than 100 Democrats for House and Senate in the 2020 election cycle and ran attack ads opposing Bernie Sanders's candidacy during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[10] In total, the PAC spent over $1.4 million on advertising attacking Sanders.[11] The anti-Sanders advertising concentrated on arguing that Sanders would lose to Trump in the general election, including arguments about the "socialism" label and Sanders's recent heart attack.[6][12] The first wave of attack ads in January led to a surge in support from Sanders supporters, with 70,000 donors collectively contributing $1.3 million to the Sanders campaign.[13]

Jonathan S. Tobin said that DMFI "played a not insignificant role in helping to undermine Sanders at a point in the campaign when he was the frontrunner and Biden seemed dead in the water" during the Democratic primaries.[14] Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination with 2,687 delegates to Sanders's 1,073. In their book Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency, political reporters Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes credit DMFI PAC’s primary ads with helping Biden secure the Democratic nomination.[15][failed verification] After his election, President-elect Biden said of the organization, "DMFI has been a powerful voice in standing up to our party’s principles and advocating for a strong enduring partnership between Israel and the U.S., grounded in our democratic values."[16][non-primary source needed]

In the 2020 New York House election in district 15, DMFI PAC supported incumbent Eliot Engel alongside AIPAC-affiliated donors against middle school principal Jamaal Bowman.[17] DMFI PAC spent over $732,000 on leafletting, television advertisements, and paid phone banking in support of Engel by June[18] and over $1.5 million by the end of the race.[3] The attack advertisements did not focus on Bowman's Israel policy, instead highlighting that he did not pay taxes in the past. Responding later, Bowman said that poverty had kept him from paying his tax burden and that he had subsequently paid in full.[18] Bowman won.[3]

2021 election year[]

DMFI PAC made an endorsement in the 2021 Ohio 11th congressional district special election, in which the front-running candidates were progressive former state senator Nina Turner and more moderate Democratic county councilwoman Shontel Brown.[19][20] The PAC endorsed Brown, citing her likely support for Israel, Turner's interest in placing conditions on U.S. aid to Israel, and Turner's lack of a statement on BDS.[19] The endorsement came alongside a similar endorsement of Brown by Pro-Israel America.[21] By July 2021, DMFI had spent over $660,000 in the race.[22] Much of the advertising suggested that Turner was too divisive.[23] In late July, DMFI released a poll of 400 likely Democratic voters that placed Brown five points behind Turner.[24][25] Brown defeated Turner.[26] By the end of the race, DMFI PAC had spent over $1 million on television ads and over $2 million total.[26][27] Journalist Daniel Marans of HuffPost said that "there’s no question that DMFI played a pivotal role" in the election, which was held to replace Representative Marcia Fudge, who now serves as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[28]

DMFI spent $32,000 opposing Omari Hardy in an 11-way race for Florida's 20th congressional district special election, including phone banking, physical and digital advertisements, and purchasing a full-page advertisement in the free South Florida paper the Jewish Journal.[29][30] DMFI entered the race after Hardy shifted his position on Israel from general support in November to a new position in December of opposition to Iron Dome funding and support for BDS two weeks before the election.[29] Hardy received 6% of the vote in the district, losing in sixth place to Cherfilus-McCormick's 24%.[31]

DMFI provoked a strong negative reaction from numerous other Jewish groups in May 2021 after it tweeted that Nancy Kaufman, former head of the National Council for Jewish Women and a progressive suggestion for Biden's antisemitism envoy, had "enabled, rather than battled, anti-Semitism."[32][33] DMFI deleted the tweet and apologized.[32][33] The attack alienated a variety of groups that support a strong Israel-US relationship from DMFI.[33] DMFI joined a broad range of pro-Israel and Jewish groups in lauding Biden's nomination of Deborah Lipstadt to the post in July 2021[34] and urged Republican senators to stop blocking her nomination.[35]

In late September, Vice President Kamala Harris did not push back after a George Mason University student described Israel's actions toward Palestinians as "an ethnic genocide and a displacement of people". After the exchange, Harris reached out to DMFI, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the Anti-Defamation League. Mellman expressed appreciation for Harris's outreach and the Biden administration's pro-Israel policies after this meeting.[36][37]

Political message[]

DMFI says it pushes for pro-Israel support among Democratic Party leadership, for autonomous Israeli defensive capacity, for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for American global leadership, for progressive values, and for education of Democratic leadership. It says it opposes "efforts to isolate, stigmatize or delegitimize Israel".[38][non-primary source needed]

DMFI supports the IHRA definition of antisemitism and, before he won the presidency, called on Biden to adopt it.[32][33]

DMFI extended congratulations to the incoming Lapid-Bennett government in 2021 alongside many Jewish and pro-Israel groups. DMFI described the new coalition as the "most inclusive government ever" politically, religiously, and ethnically.[2][39] Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's first call to an American organization after assuming office was to DMFI, during which he emphasized reinvigorating Israel's ties with the Democratic Party.[40]

Funding[]

Top donors to DMFI by January 2020 included energy executive Stacy Schusterman, the largest single donor ($995,000), and Gary Lauder, who had donated half a million.[6][41] Donations in the third and fourth quarters of 2019 totaled nearly $2.3 million.[41]

Leadership[]

Mark Mellman and other Democratic Party strategists started DMFI.[6] In September 2021, Sam Dorn left his role as communications director for Representative Carolyn Bourdeaux to become DFMI's congressional liaison.[42] As of 2020, Archie Gottesman, a longtime advertising industry member and co-founder of JewBelong, held a DMFI board position.[43]

References[]

  1. ^ Ron, Kampeas (April 24, 2020). "These are Biden's Jews". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved August 4, 2021. ...the Democratic Majority for Israel, which is aligned with centrist pro-Israel policy...
  2. ^ a b Oswald, Rachel (June 4, 2021). "With new Israeli government, Democrats may seek 'reset'". Roll Call. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Kampeas, Ron (June 25, 2020). "The fallout from Eliot Engel's likely defeat and a look at other primaries". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  4. ^ Magid, Jacob. "US Democratic pro-Israel group 'appalled' by Kahanist faction's entry to Knesset". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  5. ^ Martin, Jonathan (January 29, 2019). "Prominent Democrats Form Pro-Israel Group to Counter Skepticism on the Left". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Akela, Lacy (February 1, 2020). "Centrist Democrat Mark Mellman's Pro-Israel Group Attacks Sanders". The Intercept.
  7. ^ Jacobs, Ben (July 3, 2019). "Democratic Majority for Israel to launch PAC". Jewish Insider.
  8. ^ "Pro-Israel PAC endorses Joe Biden for president". JNS.org. March 9, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "Pro-Israel groups launch video ads in swing states". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Lisa Lerer; Sydney Ember (January 28, 2020). "Pro-Israel Democratic Super PAC to Air Attack Ads Against Bernie Sanders". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  11. ^ Marans, Daniel (May 14, 2021). "Democrats Are Slowly Getting More Critical Of Israel". HuffPost.
  12. ^ Marans, Daniel (January 29, 2020). "Bernie Sanders' Electability Is On The Ballot In Iowa". HuffPost.
  13. ^ Ember, Sydney (January 29, 2020). "Super PAC Attacks Sanders in an Ad. Sanders Raises $1.3 Million in a Day". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  14. ^ Tobin, Jonathan S. "Biden needs the Bernie Bros. Will he give them a say in policy?". JNS.org. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  15. ^ 1. Allen 2. Parnes, 1. Jonathan 2. Aime (2021). Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency. New York City: Crown. p. 120. ISBN 9780525574224. When Biden was too low on cash to compete with the onslaught of ads from other campaigns, Unite the Country and a second group called Democratic Majority for Israel picked up some of the slack. The airtime, a stronger debate performance, and Biden’s argument that Trump saw him as the toughest possible opponent combined to give the former vice president a lift of about 5 points in mid-January 2020—enough for him to retake a lead for almost two weeks.
  16. ^ "President-Elect Biden's Letter to DMFI" (PDF).
  17. ^ Levitz, Eric (June 24, 2020). "Engel Teaches Dems That Backing War and Apartheid Has a Downside". Intelligencer.
  18. ^ a b Marans, Daniel (June 17, 2020). "Israel Hawks Are Scrambling To Save Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel". HuffPost.
  19. ^ a b Kampeas, Ron (February 16, 2021). "Israel policy set to play a role in Ohio special congressional race". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  20. ^ Hannan, Sheehan (February 3, 2021). "The Race To Replace Rep. Marcia Fudge In Congress Continues". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2021. Brown... comes from the party’s more moderate wing
  21. ^ Kassel, Matthew (February 18, 2021). "Divergent views on Israel come to light as Ohio special election heats up". Jewish Insider. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  22. ^ Cunningham-Cook, Cunningham-Cook (July 16, 2021). "Oil and Gas Heir Funding Super PAC Attacking Nina Turner". The Intercept. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  23. ^ BeMiller, Haley (July 15, 2021). "This Ohio congressional race is in the national spotlight. Voters say it's more than a test for Democrats". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  24. ^ Manchester, Julia (July 23, 2021). "Shontel Brown gaining ground against Nina Turner in Ohio: poll". The Hill. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  25. ^ July 23, Matthew Kassel (July 23, 2021). "New poll puts Shontel Brown within five points of Nina Turner in tightening OH-11 race". Jewish Insider. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  26. ^ a b Mutnick, Ally (August 4, 2021). "Establishment prevails as Brown beats Turner in Ohio special election". POLITICO. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  27. ^ Allard, Sam (August 4, 2021). "Shontel Brown Wins Congressional Primary to Succeed Marcia Fudge, Nina Turner Vows to Continue Fighting". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  28. ^ "Lessons From Defeat". Jewish Currents. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  29. ^ a b Kassel, Matthew (November 5, 2021). "Why DMFI entered the Florida 20 race". Jewish Insider. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  30. ^ Weigel, David (October 28, 2021). "Not just Virginia: From county to county, an off-year battle for the suburbs". Washington Post. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  31. ^ "2021 Florida 20th House District election results | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  32. ^ a b c "Democratic pro-Israel group exposes rift among liberals over anti-Semitism envoy". Jewish News Syndicate. May 6, 2021.
  33. ^ a b c d Kampeas, Ron (May 5, 2021). "A Democratic pro-Israel group calls a longtime Jewish leader an enabler of antisemitism, exposing a fault line in the party". The Forward.
  34. ^ Magid, Jacob. "Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt nominated as US antisemitism envoy". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  35. ^ Shapiro, Dmitriy. "Ambassador to Israel's confirmation delayed by GOP objection amid partisan rancor". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  36. ^ Stein, Sam; Thompsom, Alex (September 30, 2021). "Harris' office does damage control over student's Israel 'ethnic genocide' comment". POLITICO. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  37. ^ Diamond, Jeremy; Wright, Jasmine (October 2, 2021). "Kamala Harris' office doing clean-up after exchange with student on Israel". CNN. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  38. ^ "Mission". Democratic Majority for Israel.
  39. ^ Cohen, Haley; Nahmias, Omri (June 14, 2021). "US Jewish groups welcome new government in Israel". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  40. ^ "Lapid aims to 'reinvigorate' Israel's ties with Democrats, US liberal group". JNS.org. June 21, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  41. ^ a b Severns, Maggie (January 31, 2020). "Super PAC reveals the big donors bankrolling Biden onslaught in Iowa". Politico. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  42. ^ Palmeri, Tara; Bade, Rachael; Lizza, Ryan; Daniels, Eugene (September 15, 2021). "POLITICO Playbook: Scoop: Grisham texts cast doubt on book claim". POLITICO. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  43. ^ Kamisher, Eliyahu (July 28, 2021). "A multi-city ad campaign hopes to fight antisemitism with eye-catching messages. Who is JewBelong for?". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved October 7, 2021.

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