AIPAC threw everything it had at stopping Daniel Biss from winning an Illinois primary, and voters sent a clear message back

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss has won the Democratic primary for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, dealing a major defeat to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Biss is set to replace retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky and is now heavily favored to win the general election in this strongly Democratic district.

AIPAC-aligned groups spent over $5 million on ads in this race. According to Politico, the ads were first used to support AIPAC’s preferred candidate, state Sen. Laura Fine, and to attack Biss. Later, the ads also targeted social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh.

After pulling down its anti-Biss ads late in the race, a separate shell PAC appeared and began promoting another low-polling progressive candidate. This was a clear attempt to split the progressive vote and reduce Biss’s chances of winning.

AIPAC’s heavy spending failed even in a district with one of the largest Jewish populations in the country

The result is especially notable because Biss has been openly critical of Israel’s war in Gaza. His mother is Israeli, and his grandparents are Holocaust survivors. He openly called out AIPAC’s involvement in Democratic primaries throughout his campaign.

Biss beat a crowded field that included Abughazaleh, a Palestinian American who has been even more vocal in her criticism of Israel, and Fine. He received backing from J Street, the more liberal pro-Israel organization, as well as a formal endorsement from Rep. Schakowsky in January.

Schakowsky cited his legislative experience and shared priorities, including their aligned views on Israel. His win is part of a broader shift, as a new wave of progressives reshaping House dynamics continues to grow across the country.

The district has a Jewish population of over 10 percent and has been represented by a Jewish congressman or congresswoman for more than 60 years, which is likely why AIPAC believed it could influence the outcome here.

Biss also ran on a broader policy platform that included increasing federal investment in affordable housing, expanding Social Security benefits, and banning stock trading by members of Congress. He gained national attention last year after confronting federal immigration enforcement agents at a local gas station and participating in anti-ICE protests.

This comes at a time when Trump’s escalating conflict with a former ally is adding further tension to the political landscape. Biss’s win in this primary shows that even millions of dollars in spending and vote-splitting tactics are not always enough to overcome a well-supported candidate.