NJ-Senate
New Jersey Senate Democratic Primary
Candidates
Shell PACs Deployed
Ran ads boosting Murphy and attacking Kim on fiscal policy and electability in the general election.
Ran ads boosting Murphy and attacking Kim on fiscal policy and electability in the general election.
Funded mailers in suburban NJ counties questioning Kim's experience and positioning Murphy as the 'safer' choice.
Funded mailers in suburban NJ counties questioning Kim's experience and positioning Murphy as the 'safer' choice.
Timeline
The Story
The New Jersey Senate race was one of AIPAC's most notable failures in the 2025-2026 cycle. When Sen. Bob Menendez was forced out amid corruption charges, the open seat attracted both Rep. Andy Kim and First Lady Tammy Murphy. AIPAC backed Murphy through $4.5 million in shell PAC spending, primarily through "Garden State Forward" and "New Jersey Families First."
Kim, who had been critical of unconditional military aid to Israel, was UDP's target. But the spending backfired: Kim's grassroots campaign resonated with New Jersey Democrats, and when polls showed Murphy trailing badly, she dropped out in April 2025, effectively wasting AIPAC's investment. Kim went on to win the primary and the general election easily.
The New Jersey debacle demonstrated a key vulnerability in AIPAC's strategy: the lobby's preferred candidates still need to be viable on their own merits. When the underlying candidate is weak, no amount of shell PAC spending can manufacture a competitive race. It was a $4.5 million lesson in the limits of money in politics — and a blueprint for how grassroots energy can overcome institutional spending.