JStreetPAC supports pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy candidates who know that it’s possible to strongly support Israel’s security and the US-Israel relationship while also upholding human rights, international law and a vision of democracy, equality and peace.
As a broad-based membership organization, our supporters contribute donations of all sizes to support candidates from their primary races through to their first general election and beyond.
“By pooling our donations, we’re sending a powerful message to Congress about our values and priorities and ensuring principled, talented candidates have the support they need to win,” said Tali deGroot, J Street’s Ilya Braverman National Political Director.
“Our strength comes from standing together, and that gives us the power to help candidates overcome smears and attacks from right-wing groups,” deGroot said.
J Street seeks to support candidates who align with both our policies and our community’s values. Below is the criteria that JStreetPAC takes into account in endorsement decisions and the process through which decisions are made.
Endorsement Criteria
1. Support for a strong US-Israel relationship and for US security assistance to Israel that adheres to US law.
The United States plays an indispensable role in ensuring Israel’s future as a secure, democratic homeland for the Jewish people. JStreetPAC only supports candidates who affirm this responsibility and who commit to supporting US security assistance to Israel as outlined in the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiated by President Obama – including sustained support for vital systems like Iron Dome.
As with all nations that receive US security assistance, aid to Israel is legally subject to a number of restrictions and conditions set forth in the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act. Israel must be held to the same standards as any other country receiving US aid and weapons, and US laws and policies should be consistently and impartially enforced across the board. American assistance should address Israel’s genuine defense needs and not be diverted to implement or sustain actions that undermine Israel’s security, trample on Palestinian rights, violate international law or contravene longstanding US interests and values.
2. Support for a diplomacy-first approach to foreign policy and for the rules-based international order that has prevailed since WWII.
JStreetPAC supports candidates who understand that the network of international institutions established after World War II has been central to maintaining global stability and establishing important global norms over the past 80 years and should be preserved. Backing these institutions does not require agreement with every ruling – but taking reckless actions that undermine or defund these organizations both weakens US influence and power around the world and undermines our ability to impact the agenda of these institutions.
3. Support for a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and neighboring Arab states that results in security for the State of Israel, an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state and normalization of Israel’s relations with its neighbors.
Israel’s promise as a just, peaceful and democratic homeland for the Jewish people will only be truly realized when all Palestinians have that same right to equality, freedom and self-determination.
JStreetPAC supports candidates committed to a comprehensive, negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian and broader Israeli-Arab conflicts – centered on the creation of an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state and full Israeli integration into the region. This outcome is essential to securing the national rights, freedom and security of both peoples.
4. Opposition to unilateral actions that undermine the chances of conflict resolution, including: Terrorism, incitement, annexation of West Bank or Gaza territory, entrenchment of occupation, actions that further hostilities in Gaza, and settlement expansion.
Along with rising extremism among Palestinians and Israelis, the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is a major obstacle to the achievement of Israeli-Palestinian peace, a systemic violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and a severe threat to Israel’s long-term future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people.
JStreetPAC endorsees oppose all unilateral actions – by any party – that entrench conflict and obstruct the path to a negotiated resolution. That includes Israeli settlement expansion, home demolitions, restrictions on movement, denial of access to water and other steps that entrench occupation and advance annexation.
5. Support for robust humanitarian aid and other forms of economic assistance to the Palestinians and to the UN and other agencies that serve Palestinian refugees.
JStreetPAC supports candidates who recognize that providing humanitarian and economic aid to the Palestinians is both a moral obligation and a strategic necessity. Assistance to Palestinians helps alleviate suffering and foster stability. Cutting off assistance only deepens despair, empowers extremists and undermines prospects for peace.
6. Support for diplomacy as the preferred means of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and for dealing with other Iranian policies hostile to US interests, regional security and stability.
The United States must pursue a strong response to the Iranian government’s ongoing threat to safety and security in the region – including its nuclear weapons program, support for terror groups, threats against Israel and appalling treatment of its own people.
Diplomatic engagement is a proven, effective strategy. This includes President Obama’s 2015 seven-party diplomatic agreement, which verifiably blocked Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon. Following President Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, not only did Iran resume nuclear development beyond the agreement’s thresholds, it also ramped up other malign activity in the region, including threats to partners such as Israel.
JStreetPAC endorses candidates who oppose the Iranian government’s malign activities against our allies in the region and its brutal repression of Iranians themselves, and who support diplomatic engagement as the preferred means of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
7. Support for pluralistic, non-discriminatory democracy and the rule of law in the United States and Israel, and opposition to efforts to undermine and weaken democratic norms.
The US-Israel relationship is strongest when both allies maintain their shared values of democracy, pluralism and a system of checks and balances. It becomes weaker when democratic institutions are undermined or threatened. JStreetPAC candidates advocate against actions that undermine these values and weaken the relationship, whether it be the politicization of law enforcement institutions and intimidation of the media in the United States or judicial reform and attacks on the media in Israel.
JStreetPAC will never endorse candidates who seek to undermine democratic rights, freedoms and institutions either at home or abroad. This includes a commitment to never endorse any candidate who voted to overturn the 2020 election results.
Endorsement Process
JStreetPAC seeks to operate a collaborative, constructive and inclusive endorsement process, which may include a series of ongoing meetings and exchanges focused on our issue set.
J Street offers an array of expertise and materials throughout this process in an effort to deepen political understanding of US-Israel policy, our community’s values and the situation on the ground.
Step 1: Referral / Outreach
The endorsement process can be initiated in a variety of ways. Candidates may reach out to J Street directly, local J Street chapters may refer a candidate, or J Street may initiate an endorsement conversation.
Campaigns may reach out directly by emailing our political team here.
Step 2: Initial Conversation
The next step is usually a meeting between the candidate and J Street’s political team. Often, these meetings are facilitated by local J Street members who have existing relationships with the candidate or staff.
This discussion is useful to introduce staff and candidates to JStreetPAC, answer basic questions, outline the endorsement process and check in on the campaign’s level of engagement on our issues or specific issues of concern within the district.
Step 3: Questionnaire
After an initial meeting with staff, campaigns will complete a short questionnaire to indicate their positions on J Street’s endorsement criteria. J Street’s team is available to assist with queries about the politics or subject matter throughout this process.
If the candidate’s answers on the questionnaire align with J Street’s values, goals and endorsement criteria, the candidate will move to the next stage of the endorsement process.
Step 4: Local Engagement
Local Jewish leaders and grassroots supporters are a vital part of J Street’s pro-Israel, pro-peace and pro-democracy movement. The next step in the endorsement process is often a meeting with local J Street supporters in the district.
Our members and leaders are well-connected in Jewish communal spaces – such as within synagogues, federations and Jewish Community Centers – and can provide campaigns with a vital network to reach the wider Jewish and pro-Israel community. Local leaders provide a recommendation to JStreetPAC on how to proceed.
Step 5: National Decision
Based on the submissions and recommendations of the process so far, J Street’s National Political Committee will make a final decision on endorsement. The group is composed of top J Street political leaders from across the country who place the recommendations of local members and J Street staff in high regard.
Step 6: Endorsement
Once a candidate is officially endorsed, they will be added to the JStreetPAC website, where members can contribute to their campaign. JStreetPAC works with local supporters to host local or national fundraisers for endorsees and sends emails to members drawing attention to priority races and candidates.
If you have any further questions about the JStreetPAC endorsement process or the criteria, please don’t hesitate to email our political team.
