Shri Thanedar (Campaign photo)
Rep. Shri Thanedar has been the target of Pro-Palestinian groups protesting the war in Gaza. He's also been beneficiary of pro-Israel groups.
Melissa Nann Burke of the Detroit News reports that two political committees linked to the pro-Israel lobby spent more than $2.3 million this summer to help Thanedar win the Democratic primary with nearly 55 percent of the vote.
She writes:
Donors to the group Blue Wave Action were revealed for the first time about two weeks after the Michigan primary in a filing with the Federal Election Commission showing its two largest donations were $950,000 from the United Democracy Project, which is tied to the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and $561,000 from the group Voters For Responsive Government, which is administered by AIPAC.
Other donors to Blue Wave Action included roughly 15 out-of-state individuals and the Schostak Family Federal PAC, which contributed $75,000. The PAC is tied to the Schostak Brothers & Co., a commercial real estate firm in Livonia and the family business of former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak, who didn't return a call Monday for comment.
The PAC is reportedly responsible for TV ads against Democratic challenger Mary Waters, pointing out that she was convicted of a misdemeanor for bribery, the News reports. It also sent mailers including one that falsely accused Waters, a Detroit City Councilwoman, of opposing same-sex marriage.
In 2022, Jewish groups spent big money to defeat Andy Levin in his bid for re-election against Congresswoman Haley Stevens. The groups felt Levin, who is Jewish, was too critical of Israel. Stevens is not Jewish, but was considered a more solid supporter of Israel. She soundly defeated Levin in the primary and went on to be re-elected.
