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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is urging Democratic leaders to restrict super PAC involvement in party primaries, arguing that wealthy outside groups have too much influence over Democratic nominations.
In a post on X on Sunday, Sanders singled out the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, while criticizing outside spending in Democratic primaries.
“It is insane that the Democrats allow super PACs like AIPAC to spend millions in their primaries — only for those same special interests to help elect Republicans in the general election,” Sanders wrote. “My message to Democratic leaders: Ban super PACs from Democratic primaries NOW.”
Sanders also shared an Aug. 8 letter addressed to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2026. Sanders is calling on Democratic leaders to ban super PACs from participating in party primaries. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
In the letter, Sanders said AIPAC and affiliated groups spent more than $30 million in Michigan’s Democratic primary in an effort to defeat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. He also said the group plans to spend tens of millions more to support Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.
“AIPAC is not the only super PAC or outside organization playing this role. Corporate super PACs — including crypto, AI and online betting special interests — have already spent a record $517 million this election cycle, shattering the record set in 2024,” Sanders wrote.
His criticism focused not only on the amount of outside spending, but also on groups that he said try to influence Democratic primaries and then support Republican candidates if their preferred Democrat loses.
“What is particularly obscene is not only the outrageous amount of money coming into Democratic primaries from billionaire-funded super PACs, but the reality that these special interests have no particular desire to see Democrats win,” he said.
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A visitor holds an AIPAC folder inside the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 12, 2024. In a Sunday post on X, Sanders took particular aim at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“It is absurd that they spend tens of millions of dollars to try to determine who the Democratic nominee is and, if they fail, then proceed to support the Republican candidate in the general election.”
AIPAC says it supports pro-Israel candidates from both parties, according to its website.
“AIPAC is a grassroots membership organization with a PAC that supports pro-Israel Democratic and Republican candidates for Congress,” as noted on its website. “The AIPAC PAC is funded by individual American citizens who care deeply about helping elect leaders who want to strengthen the partnership between the United States and Israel.”
AIPAC is affiliated with United Democracy Project, a super PAC that says it works to help defeat “detractors — both Republicans and Democrats — of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” its website states.
Sanders again called for a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United and for public financing of elections.
“Right now, the Democratic Party has the power to prohibit super PACs from participating in its primaries. That can be done. That must be done,” Sanders wrote. “I urge you to take action and make clear that the Democratic Party will no longer maintain this corrupt system.”
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., arrives for a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on March 5, 2026. Sanders sent Schumer an Aug. 8 letter urging Democratic leaders to ban super PACs from party primaries. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Sanders added, “While there are ideological differences of opinion within the big tent of the party, I would hope that we can all agree that Republican special interests should not play a role in determining the outcome of Democratic primaries. The time to act is now.”
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In May, Sanders and Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., introduced the Abolish Super PACs Act, which would cap individual contributions to super PACs at $5,000 and effectively eliminate them.
AIPAC, Sanders, Schumer, Martin, Jeffries and Rogers could not immediately be reached by Digital for comment.
