DMFI announces second wave of congressional endorsements
Three incumbents and one former congressman get the pro-Israel group’s backing
American Federation of Government Employees
Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney discusses the paid parental leave provision in the final conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
Democratic Majority for Israel’s political action committee, established last year to support pro-Israel Democrats, announced its second round of endorsements for House candidates in 2020 on Friday.
In New York’s 12th congressional district, the group endorsed longtime Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who is facing three challengers, including a rematch with upstart hotel magnate Suraj Patel, in the June 23rd primary.
In New Jersey’s 5th district, DMFI endorsed two-term Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who is being challenged by Arati Kreibich, a council member from Glen Rock, New Jersey, in the June 2nd primary.
In Florida’s 20th district, Rep. Alcee Hastings received DMFI’s backing against three rivals, including a rematch with Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a progressive healthcare executive, on August 18th.
Special seat: DMFI also endorsed former Congressman Kweisi Mfume in the June 2nd primary to reclaim his seat in the Maryland’’s 7th district. Mfume is the party’s nominee for the April 28th special election to fill the seat of late Rep. Elijah Cummings and serve out the remainder of the term, but will have to win the June primary to appear on the ballot in the November general election.
Rewarding allies: “We’re thrilled to endorse these effective and inspiring pro-Israel Democratic leaders. We look forward to helping them win their primaries and in November,” DMFI President and CEO Mark Mellman said in a statement to Jewish Insider. “Supporting a strong U.S.-Israel relationship is wise policy and election results across the country demonstrate that it’s also good politics.”
Record: Two of DFMI’s endorsed candidates — incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) in the Lone Star State’s 28th district and former Jewish Federations of North America chairwoman Kathy Manning in North Carolina’s sixth district — won their primaries on March 3rd. In February, the pro-Israel group endorsed Rep. Joyce Beatty in Ohio’s third congressional district — prior to the state postponing its primaries due to COVD-19 — and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), who is running for re-election in the June 23rd primary.