AIPAC Is Shaking Up Its Political Operation

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is quietly searching for a new general counsel and director of political operations, according to private communications reviewed by NOTUS.

A position description, marked “CONFIDENTIAL” and dated March 2026, was shared with at least one potential candidate by Allison Rosner, the managing director at the Washington executive recruitment firm Major, Lindsey & Africa, which AIPAC has hired to conduct the search.

The powerful pro-Israel advocacy group is looking for someone “capable of enabling assertive yet compliant political engagement while safeguarding the Organization against unnecessary legal or reputational risk,” according to the executive summary of the role.

It’s “not a traditional general counsel role.”

The environment is “closely scrutinized.”

And “political sophistication” is a must — especially as the bipartisan organization is facing waning influence among Democrats.

Philip Friedman, AIPAC’s current general counsel and director of political operations, is retiring after more than 30 years with the organization, a source familiar with his plans told NOTUS.

AIPAC declined to comment Tuesday on personnel matters and its job search.

Friedman earned around $708,000 from AIPAC and affiliated organizations between October 2023 and September 2024, according to the group’s latest nonprofit tax return filed with the Internal Revenue Service. The job description simply said compensation is “commensurate with experience.”

AIPAC had 24 job openings on its website as of Tuesday afternoon — none of which are for the general counsel and director of political operations role.

AIPAC has long boosted politicians on both sides of the aisle who support a strong relationship between Israel and the United States — and unapologetically attacks those who question it.

But the organization is facing significant political turbulence.

Many prominent Democrats have distanced themselves from the organization amid concerns that AIPAC is too supportive of conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, AIPAC is facing questions concerning its political strength and electoral effectiveness because of decidedly mixed results in the 2026 midterms to date.

In New Jersey last month, the AIPAC-backed super PAC United Democracy Project inadvertently helped pro-Palestinian organizer Analilia Mejia win the Democratic special primary for Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s former House seat by spending more than $2 million opposing former Rep. Tom Malinowski, who had a generally pro-Israel track record while in Congress. AIPAC’s political action committee even donated to his 2022 reelection campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records.

And last week, in Illinois — where WBEZ Chicago reported a network of groups affiliated with AIPAC spent nearly $25 million trying to influence four congressional primaries — only two of the four AIPAC-backed candidates won.

In Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss — the grandson of Holocaust survivors who supports Israel but criticizes its current government — beat the AIPAC-backed state Sen. Laura Fine and progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh. Biss’ campaign shared an internal survey with the New York Times that found 51% of Democratic voters viewed AIPAC unfavorably — three times more than the 17% who viewed the organization favorably.

Patrick Dorton, a spokesperson for the United Democracy Project, told the New York Times that the super PAC was shifting its strategy to focus on defeating hard-line opponents of Israel but maintained, “Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics” — a phrase featured on the AIPAC homepage.

But Politico reported Tuesday that looking beyond the 2026 midterms, some potential Democratic 2028 presidential contenders have already loosened or severed ties with AIPAC, including Sen. Cory Booker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — more evidence of AIPAC’s waning influence among Democrats who are critical of Israel’s government.

AIPAC directed NOTUS to a post on X Tuesday in response to the Politico article.

“Millions of Democrats are AIPAC members who will support candidates that best reflect their values, including a strong US-Israel partnership,” AIPAC wrote. “Singling out and excluding millions of pro-Israel Democrats is wrong and undemocratic.”

Despite its troubles, AIPAC remains flush with money.

In its latest filing with the IRS, AIPAC disclosed receiving more than $149.4 million in contributions between October 2023 and September 2024. AIPAC’s nonprofit wing is not legally required to disclose the source of those funds, which fuel a robust political influence operation in Washington that goes well beyond election-season politics.

For example, AIPAC spent nearly $3.8 million lobbying federal policymakers in 2025 on a range of issues, including pushing for unconditional military and diplomatic support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza. It’s also been a vocal supporter of Trump’s war with Iran.

The United Democracy Project super PAC spent nearly $37.9 million during the 2024 election cycle, contributing to primary losses for several candidates, including two progressive members of the so-called “Squad” — former Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri.

As of Feb. 28, United Democracy Project had more than $91.6 million in cash on hand, according to a report filed Friday with the FEC.