Democrats Before the Congressional Elections: Internal Split Between Moderate Leadership and Progressives

On April 9, 2026, at a meeting of the Democratic National Committee in New Orleans, party leadership rejected a resolution condemning the influence of pro-Israel lobbying on the course of internal party primaries. 

The document criticizing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)—one of the most powerful actors shaping U.S. foreign policy—was replaced with a general declaration against opaque campaign financing that omitted any reference to specific organizations.

The progressive wing of the Democratic Party, represented in part by Ro Khanna and Rashida Tlaib, interpreted the decision as a deliberate choice by party leadership to prioritize donor loyalty.