WASHINGTON: The Iran war is influencing Democratic primaries ahead of November’s midterm elections. Progressives fault moderate rivals for not opposing President Donald Trump’s bombing campaign strongly enough. They also criticize what they call overly close ties with defense contractors and Israel. Consequently, tensions are emerging in Democratic primaries for Senate and House seats in Michigan, Colorado, Illinois, Maine and North Carolina. A Reuters review shows at least half a dozen progressives are challenging establishment-backed or moderate rivals over the Iran war.
These challengers argue that donations to their opponents from defense contractors and pro-Israel groups undercut their opposition to the conflict. As a result, the Democratic primary tensions highlight a broader struggle inside the party over its future. The party is trying to rebuild after election losses in 2024. Additionally, it is starting to consider potential candidates for the 2028 presidential election.
Progressive Critique Intensifies
For progressives, the US-Israeli bombing of Iran has sparked anew longstanding demands. They want to end American-led wars. They seek to curb the influence of defense industry and billionaire donors. Moreover, they want to shift attention to economic fairness and equal rights at home. Therefore, progressives have seized on the Iran war in speeches, media interviews, TV ads, and fundraising appeals.
They accuse some opponents of taking donations from defense contractors. They also criticize groups affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. AIPAC is the powerful pro-Israel political lobbying group. “It’s difficult to trust politicians who take money from weapons manufacturers and AIPAC,” said Abdul El-Sayed. He is a Democratic primary candidate for a Senate seat in Michigan. “All of them are for this war. For those politicians to then stand up and say they are against the war.”
Candidates like El-Sayed say it’s not enough to oppose the Iran war. They insist Democrats must back that rhetoric by refusing such donations. In contrast, their more moderate opponents have sharply rebutted the attacks. They say they have been quick to oppose the Iran war. They argue progressives are manufacturing a conflict for electoral gain.
Illinois Primary Results
In a Democratic House primary in Illinois on Tuesday, Kat Abughazaleh faced voters. She is a progressive who made opposition to the war and AIPAC-funded candidates central to her campaign. Nevertheless, she came second. She lost to more moderate candidate Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. The margin was just over three percentage points in a crowded field. The close result suggests the war issue resonates with many primary voters. However, it may not yet determine outcomes.
While Democratic lawmakers in Congress have largely unified against the war, internal disputes continue. The war is unpopular with most Americans. Yet the primary-season disputes underscore how the party risks squandering a potential political advantage. Republicans are heading into the midterms facing significant political headwinds. Consequently, internal divisions could blunt Democratic momentum.
Fight Looming for 2028
The main point of friction is whether the party should appeal more to swing voters. Alternatively, it could focus on energizing its core supporters. These internal cross-currents about ideology and tactics have swirled for many election cycles. The tensions extend beyond foreign policy. They include how boldly to pursue economic reforms. They also involve how closely the party should align with corporate America.
“The day after the midterms are over in November these tensions will burst forth,” said Bill Galston. He is a veteran Democratic strategist. Therefore, the Democratic primary tensions over Iran may be a preview of larger battles. The party will select a presidential nominee in 2028. These early skirmishes could shape that contest.
North Carolina Contest
In a North Carolina Democratic House primary this month, Nida Allam ran for office. She is a county commissioner. She issued an ad focused on the Iran war and her opponent. Her opponent was Democratic incumbent Valerie Foushee. A central part of Allam’s campaign focused on campaign donations. Federal Election Commission filings show Foushee’s campaign took $3,000 each from political committees. These committees are controlled by two weapons manufacturers, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
When Foushee ran for Congress in 2022, AIPAC’s political action committee spent over $2 million supporting her campaign. FEC filings confirm this amount. However, she said she would forgo AIPAC-linked assistance this cycle. “I will never take a dime from defense contractors or the pro-Israel lobby,” Allam said in her ad. “I have opposed these forever wars my entire career.”
Foushee narrowly won the March 3 primary by one percentage point. She is likely to win re-election in November. Nevertheless, Allam’s attack over Iran was part of an opening salvo. It signals the party’s internal fight heading into 2028, Galston said.
Incumbent Responses
“Trump’s senseless war in Iran puts civilians abroad and our servicemembers at risk,” Foushee said in a statement to Reuters. “Americans are tired of sending taxpayer money abroad for endless wars. The cost of groceries, healthcare, and housing continues to rise here at home.” Additionally, progressive challengers say their opponents have voted to increase the Pentagon’s budget. They have not backed efforts to shift money toward domestic programs.
In Colorado’s Democratic US Senate primary, Julie Gonzales is challenging an incumbent. She is a state senator. Her opponent is John Hickenlooper. He is expected to win his primary and the general election in November. Nevertheless, Gonzales has taken issue with Hickenlooper’s vote in October. He voted to increase the US defense budget under Trump. She says it is hypocritical to make anti-war statements while funding America’s war machine.
“Whatever he says, John Hickenlooper owns this war,” Gonzales told Reuters. Like most Senate Democrats, Hickenlooper voted in favor of a resolution this month. The resolution aims to curb Trump’s ability to wage war abroad. “I think he started an illegal war with Iran,” Hickenlooper said in a video. “Americans don’t want another endless war in the Middle East.”
Colorado House Race
Melat Kiros is a progressive Democratic candidate in Colorado. She is running against a Democratic incumbent in a House primary. She seized on Iran the morning the US-Israeli bombing campaign started on February 28. In an Instagram video filmed as she walked down a street, Kiros denounced politicians. She criticized those who take contributions from the defense industry.
“The only way things change is if we make sure our elected representatives aren’t in the pockets of the military industrial complex,” she said. In an interview with Reuters, Kiros criticized her opponent, Diana DeGette. DeGette twice voted against motions by progressive lawmakers to cut the Pentagon’s budget. These votes occurred in 2020 and 2021.
“The greatest hypocrisy I’m seeing is these folks now saying we shouldn’t be spending this money on war.” DeGette’s campaign did not respond to Reuters for comment. However, in a March 5 statement she said, “This war is costing at least $1 billion every day. That is billions of dollars that could go towards affordable health care and housing. I refuse to support this war.”
Testing Ground for Party Future
Matt Bennett is a co-founder of the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way. He said efforts by progressives to press internal party debates over Iran could undermine Democratic prospects. This could affect the midterm elections. He argued that winning against Republicans requires nominees who can attract moderate voters. Regaining the White House also demands broad appeal.
“These hyper progressives that are running in these primaries don’t do that,” Bennett said. “And that’s the concern.” Conversely, progressive groups argue voters are frustrated with politics as usual. Usamah Andrabi is a spokesperson for Justice Democrats. The group has endorsed a slate of progressive Democrats this year. These include Allam and Kiros.
Andrabi said the party’s supporters want leaders to take on corporatism and the defense industry. “The war with Iran is a great testing ground for that sort of future of the Democratic Party,” Andrabi said. The Democratic National Committee oversees election strategy and candidate support. It did not respond to Reuters’ questions about internal disagreements over Iran.
Instead, it emphasized the economic and political issues it wants voters to focus on. “More than a year into his term, prices are higher than ever,” said Mia Ehrenberg, a DNC spokesperson. “Trump’s latest foreign conflict has plunged our nation into a deadly and costly war that no one asked for.” Opinion polls show that about one in four Americans support the war. Only 10 percent of Democratic voters back it.
This disconnect between party base and administration policy creates space for primary challengers. Consequently, the Democratic primary tensions over Iran will likely persist. They will continue as long as the conflict lasts. They may even shape the party’s direction for years to come.
