Original Research
Shell PAC Registry
Tracking pop-up super PACs that obscure the source of lobby money in elections. These are political action committees created with generic names to hide their connection to AIPAC and the pro-Israel lobby network.
What Is a Shell PAC?
A shell PAC is a political action committee registered with a generic, local-sounding name that gives no indication of who actually funds it. AIPAC's super PAC (United Democracy Project) creates these shell PACs weeks before elections to run millions in ads about local issues — housing, healthcare, infrastructure — while the real motivation is the target candidate's stance on Israel policy. Because FEC disclosure rules allow delayed reporting, voters often never learn who funded the ads until after they've already voted.
All Tracked Shell PACs
Elect Chicago Women
Registered January 27, 2026 · Illinois · IL-07, IL-08, IL-09 Primaries
Ran TV, digital, and mail ads in three Illinois congressional primaries. Ads focused entirely on local issues — constituent services, progressive credentials, city infrastructure — without ever mentioning Israel or foreign policy. Deployed across IL-07 (backing Norington-Reaves), IL-08 (opposing Siddiqui), and IL-09 (backing Simmons).
Affordable Chicago Now!
Registered January 30, 2026 · Illinois · IL-02, IL-08, IL-09 Primaries
Focused on cost-of-living and affordable housing messaging across three Illinois races. Boosted AIPAC-backed candidates' records on healthcare and housing without disclosing who funded the ads until after voters had already cast ballots. Active in IL-02 (boosting Kelly), IL-08 (boosting Fajardo), and IL-09 (cost-of-living messaging in Evanston/Skokie).
Chicago Progressive Partnership
Registered February 3, 2026 · Illinois · IL-07, IL-02, IL-09 Primaries
Designed to co-opt progressive branding. Ran digital and mail campaigns framing AIPAC-backed candidates as the 'true progressive' choice. In IL-07, muddied the policy waters around Norington-Reaves. In IL-02, defended Kelly's progressive credentials. In IL-09, positioned Simmons as the heir to Schakowsky's legacy.
United Democracy Project (UDP)
Registered January 25, 2022 · National · Multiple (2022, 2024, 2026 cycles)
AIPAC's official super PAC and the parent entity behind the shell PAC network. UDP ended 2025 with a $96M war chest. Rather than spending directly under its own name in most races, UDP creates or funds purpose-built shell PACs weeks before elections, distancing AIPAC's brand from the attack ads. Spent directly in the NJ Senate race through Garden State Forward and New Jersey Families First.
Garden State Forward
Registered November 15, 2024 · New Jersey · NJ Senate Primary
Created five months before the New Jersey Senate primary to boost Tammy Murphy and attack Andy Kim. Ran TV ads questioning Kim's electability and fiscal policy positions while positioning Murphy as the 'safe' choice. None of the ads mentioned Israel, AIPAC, or foreign policy — the actual reason the spending existed.
New Jersey Families First
Registered December 1, 2024 · New Jersey · NJ Senate Primary
Second shell PAC deployed in the New Jersey Senate race. Funded mailers in suburban counties questioning Andy Kim's experience while positioning Tammy Murphy as the 'safer' choice for New Jersey families. Dissolved after Murphy dropped out of the race in April 2025.
Mainstream Democrats PAC
Registered March 2024 · National · Multiple 2024 Democratic Primaries
Deployed in the 2024 cycle to oppose progressive candidates in Democratic primaries. The name 'Mainstream Democrats' was chosen to signal electability concerns rather than foreign policy motivations. Used in races where AIPAC-backed candidates faced progressive challengers who supported conditioning aid to Israel.
Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) PAC
Registered January 2019 · National · Multiple (2020, 2022, 2024 cycles)
Not technically a UDP shell PAC but operates as a parallel arm of the pro-Israel spending network. DMFI spends in races where UDP/AIPAC doesn't want its name attached. Ran major campaigns against progressive candidates in the 2024 Democratic primaries. Uses polling and focus-grouped messaging to attack candidates on local issues while the actual motivation is their stance on Israel.
How Shell PACs Work
Donors Fund AIPAC's Super PAC
Wealthy pro-Israel donors contribute to AIPAC, which funnels money to United Democracy Project (UDP) — its official super PAC. UDP ended 2025 with a $96 million war chest. Individual donors are disclosed in quarterly FEC filings, but the timing ensures voters rarely see the donor list before election day.
UDP Creates Shell PACs
Weeks before an election, UDP registers new PACs with the FEC using generic, local-sounding names — 'Elect Chicago Women,' 'Affordable Chicago Now!' — that obscure any connection to AIPAC or Israel. UDP transfers millions to these shell PACs. The new PAC names appear on ads instead of AIPAC.
Shell PAC Runs Ads, Hides Source
The shell PAC spends millions on TV, mail, and digital ads attacking or boosting candidates. Ads focus exclusively on local issues — healthcare, housing, infrastructure — never mentioning Israel or foreign policy. Donor disclosure is delayed until after voters have cast ballots. The shell PAC often goes dormant or dissolves after the election.
Timeline: When Were They Created?
Shell PACs are typically registered weeks — not months — before election day. This narrow window maximizes the gap between ad spending and donor disclosure, ensuring voters never learn who funded the ads before casting their ballots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a shell PAC?
A shell PAC is a political action committee created with a generic-sounding name to hide the true source of its funding. In the context of pro-Israel lobby spending, AIPAC's super PAC (United Democracy Project) creates shell PACs with names like 'Elect Chicago Women' or 'Affordable Chicago Now!' that give no indication of their connection to AIPAC or Israel policy. These PACs are often registered weeks before an election, spend millions on ads about local issues, and dissolve after the race is over.
Why do lobbies use shell PACs instead of spending directly?
Shell PACs serve two purposes: brand distancing and delayed disclosure. If voters saw 'Paid for by AIPAC' on every attack ad, many would question why an Israel lobby is spending millions in a local race. By using shell PACs with local-sounding names, the true funder stays hidden. Additionally, FEC disclosure rules allow these PACs to delay reporting their donors until after the election — meaning voters never know who paid for the ads before they cast their ballots.
Are shell PACs legal?
Yes. Under current FEC regulations, creating a new PAC with any name is legal. Super PACs can fund other PACs, and disclosure timelines allow donors to remain hidden until quarterly filing deadlines — which often fall after election day. Critics argue this amounts to legalized dark money within a system that is technically 'disclosed.' Several reform proposals in Congress would require real-time donor disclosure, but none have passed.
How does Gen Us track shell PACs?
We monitor FEC registration filings for new PACs created in the weeks before elections, cross-reference funding sources through donor disclosure reports, and track spending through independent expenditure filings. We also analyze the timing of PAC creation relative to election dates and the gap between spending and donor disclosure to identify patterns consistent with shell PAC operations.
How much have shell PACs spent in the 2026 election cycle?
In the 2026 cycle, shell PACs funded by United Democracy Project (AIPAC) spent over $22 million in the Illinois March primaries alone through three shell PACs: Elect Chicago Women, Affordable Chicago Now!, and Chicago Progressive Partnership. None disclosed their donors before election day. Total shell PAC spending across all tracked cycles exceeds $155 million.