US Rep. Greg Stanton was projected to have beat progressive upstart Kai Newkirk on Tuesday in Arizona’s Democratic primary, fending off an opponent who had criticized Stanton for his pro-Israel stance and support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Stanton will face off against Republican Zuhdi Jasser in the general election for Arizona’s fourth district, which covers parts of Phoenix and Maricopa County.

Newkirk, 45, an activist and democratic socialist, had made Israel and AIPAC a focal point in his effort to unseat Stanton, repeatedly blasting his opponent’s support from the pro-Israel lobbying group.

“I’ve been arrested over 25 times in civil disobedience — and I’ll go to jail for justice again before I ever take a dime from AIPAC,” Newkirk wrote on X last week.

He has also accused the Israeli government itself of “trying to interfere in our elections,” including in Arizona’s 4th Congressional District where he is running and which covers parts of Phoenix and Maricopa County.

He pointed to a $45 million text message campaign to improve Israel’s image in the US as a sign of such interference, and posited that “they may be targeting areas where AIPAC is more invested or where these issues are more at stake.”

The primary came as a number of left-wing congressional candidates with sharply critical Israel stances have won the Democratic nomination around the country, and as Israel and AIPAC grow increasingly unpopular among Democratic voters.

Newkirk’s platform included ending all military aid to Israel and imposing an arms embargo on the country, which he accuses of genocide.

Stanton, 56, a four-term incumbent, voted against Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s amendment to cut military aid to Israel last week. Newkirk criticized Stanton, saying that he would have voted for the amendment, and suggested that Stanton’s vote was the result of his support from AIPAC.

“Greg Stanton has taken over $300K from........

© The Times of Israel