DMFI announces endorsement of New York congresswoman facing first primary challenge

Democratic Majority for Israel’s political action committee, established last year to support pro-Israel Democrats, announced its endorsement of Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) on Friday in its third round of House endorsements.

Details: Meng is being challenged for the first time since being elected to office in 2012. The four-term incumbent, who also serves as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, has outraised her three challengers — Sandra Choi, Matthew DiBono and Melquiades Gagarin — by over $900,000, according to the most recent FEC filings. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers will receive mail-in ballots ahead of the state’s June 23 primary.

Background: Meng is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and its state, foreign operations, and related programs subcommittee, which deals with allocating funds for Israel. She was the first member of the New York congressional delegation and the second Democratic member of Congress to announce her opposition to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. 

Picking sides: DMFI also endorsed San Diego City Council President Georgette Gómez, who is running against fellow Democrat Sara Jacobs to succeed retiring Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) in California’s 53rd congressional district. Gómez and Jacobs — a former Hillary Clinton campaign aide and State Department contractor — were the two top vote-getters in the district’s ‘jungle primary’ last month. Gómez has the backing of a diverse group of supporters, including Justice Democrats, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — as well as pro-Israel donors including Stacy Schusterman and two former AIPAC presidents.

Committed friends: “We’re thrilled to endorse these inspiring and diverse Democratic women who are effective leaders and strong advocates for the U.S.–Israel relationship. We look forward to helping them win their elections,” DMFI President and CEO Mark Mellman, whose polling and consulting firm counts Gómez as a client, 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.”