United Democracy Project (UDP)
The United Democracy Project (UDP) is a Super PAC backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) 1 that works to elect candidates who are “strong supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship in Congress.” 2 The group focuses on opposing candidates who want to condition U.S. aid to Israel and runs ads on issues UDP considers most salient to their races, not necessarily Israel. 3 4
Contents
Background
Between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022, the United Democracy Project (UDP) spent just under $33 million. 5 Of that $33 million, $4.3 million went to opposing then-U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D), who lost to Chris Van Hollen (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate; 6 $3.9 million supporting U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens’s (D-MI) campaign for U.S. Representative in Michigan’s 11th District; and $3.3 million opposing Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA), who was elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. 5 7 Additionally, just under $200,000 went to opposing Ohio Democratic candidate Nina Turner while about $83,000 went to supporting Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH), her opponent in the Democratic primary for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District. 5 8
From January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024, the Super PAC spent over $61.3 million. 9 Of that money, almost $10 million went to opposing then-U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), $5.2 million went to opposing then-U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), a little under $4.2 million supporting U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), and nearly $320,000 opposing U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). 9 UPD spokesperson Patrick Dorton called Rep. Massie “the most anti-Israel Republican in the House.” 10 UDP also supported and opposed several other candidates. 9
The UDP spent almost $28 million in total disbursements from January 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026. 11 During that time, it spent just shy of $5 million in support of City of Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who lost her primary; 12 $2.3 million opposing former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ); 13 and nearly $60,000 opposing Jason Friedman (D), who lost his primary. 11 14 15 16
As of June 5, 2026, the United Democracy Project had spent over $15 million in the race for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District 17 and just under $1.3 million in the race for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District. 18 In the last weekend of May 2026, the UDP spent almost $1.2 million in support of Maryland State Delegate Adrian Boafo (D) in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District. 19 Boafo listed strengthening the US-Israel alliance among his priorities on his campaign website. 20 On June 23, Boafo won the Democratic Primary for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, with UDP having reportedly spent up to $5.7 million for his primary campaign. 21
Financials
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was by far the United Democracy Project’s (UDP) largest donor in 2022, with two donations totaling $10.5 million. 22 However, the UDP also received donations of $1 million each from the Kraft Group, Paul Singer, and Bernie Marcus. 22
In 2024, AIPAC gave $10 million to the UDP, and UDP received donations of between one and four million dollars from Bernie Marcus, Paul Singer, Haim Saban, Jonathon Jacobson, David Zalik, and Jan Koum. 23
As of April 30, 2026, the United Democracy ProjectSuper PAC reported total individual contributions of over $91 million. 24 Between January 2025 and March 2026, AIPAC gave $30 million in two donations to the group. 25 Others who gave $1 million include Paul Singer, Blair Frank, Marc Rowan, and Haim Saban. 25
Leadership
Patrick Dorton was a spokesman for the United Democracy Project (UDP) as of March 2026. 26 Robert Bassin was the CEO of the UDP as of May 2022. 27 Christopher D’Alessio was the treasurer as of 2026. 28