Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, has received the endorsement of the advocacy group TrackAIPAC after winning a primary election. This endorsement marks a shift for Khanna, who was previously targeted by the group due to his legislative record, despite not accepting funds from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Khanna signed TrackAIPAC's PEACE pledge, which commits candidates to reject AIPAC funding and acknowledge human rights violations in Gaza.
TrackAIPAC aims to influence U.S. policy regarding Israel and Palestine and has reported successes in primary elections for candidates it supports. The group has faced criticism for its methodology in assigning endorsements and red cards to lawmakers. Khanna's evolving stance on Israel and Palestine has included both support for military aid and criticism of human rights violations. He has expressed his commitment to opposing military assistance to countries with human rights abuses and has positioned himself to the left of the Democratic establishment on these issues.
Political consultant Adam Carlson noted that while TrackAIPAC's influence is growing, it may not significantly change the dynamics for establishment Democrats who support Israel. TrackAIPAC has stated that any candidate who abandons the pledge will be targeted in their campaigns.