Explainer · Money in Politics

What Is the United Democracy Project? AIPAC’s Super PAC, Explained

The United Democracy Project (FEC ID C00799031) is the super PAC affiliated with AIPAC. Launched ahead of the 2022 midterms, it has spent about $68.5 million in independent expenditures — advertising for and against congressional candidates, overwhelmingly in Democratic primaries. Here’s exactly what it is and how it works.

Source: FEC filings (C00799031) Cycles: 2022–2026 Published:
$68.5M
Independent Expenditures
2022–2026
~36
Races Touched
high-stakes contests
2022
First Cycle
launched for the midterms
$9.83M
Largest Single Race
opposing Jamaal Bowman
The Basics

What It Is

The United Democracy Project — often shortened to UDP — is a super PAC, formally an “independent-expenditure-only committee.” It was created by AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and registered with the Federal Election Commission ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Its stated purpose is to support candidates it considers pro-Israel and to oppose those it doesn’t — a goal it pursues by spending money on advertising rather than by endorsing or donating directly.

The Difference

UDP vs. the AIPAC PAC: Why It Matters

AIPAC actually runs two federal money vehicles, and the distinction explains why the super PAC dominates the headlines. A regular PAC gives directly to campaigns but is capped by contribution limits. A super PAC can raise and spend unlimited money on independent expenditures — as long as it doesn’t coordinate with the campaigns it’s helping or attacking.

AIPAC PAC

FEC C00797670 · traditional PAC
$9.6M
to 511 candidates (direct)
  • Gives money directly to campaigns
  • Subject to federal contribution limits
  • Spread thin across hundreds of members
  • Bipartisan, but small per-candidate

United Democracy Project

FEC C00799031 · super PAC
$68.5M
independent expenditures (for & against)
  • Cannot give to campaigns — runs ads
  • No spending limit
  • Concentrated on a few dozen primaries
  • Home of the multi-million-dollar interventions
The Strategy

Where the Money Goes

UDP’s spending is striking for how concentrated and how negative it is. Rather than spreading money widely, it pours millions into a handful of contests — and nearly half of all AIPAC dollars in our data went to oppose candidates, not support them. The targets have been overwhelmingly progressive Democrats in primaries: its two biggest interventions were roughly $9.83M against Jamaal Bowman and $5.22M against Cori Bush in 2024, both of whom lost. See the full breakdown on AIPAC’s biggest targets.

Is this foreign money? No. The United Democracy Project is an American super PAC registered with the FEC and funded by U.S. donors. It is not registered as a foreign agent under FARA, and it is not funded by the Israeli government. It is a domestic political-spending vehicle, like super PACs aligned with other industries and causes. Foreign-government lobbying is a separate disclosure regime — see which countries lobby Congress.
One reporting caveat. As covered widely in 2026, AIPAC has increasingly routed money through additional conduit PACs — often locally named groups in primary states — that aren’t counted in our two-committee tally. The figures here are a conservative floor for the United Democracy Project itself, not the total of all pro-AIPAC spending.

See where the money landed

Every member of Congress, ranked live by what AIPAC's PAC and super PAC spent for and against them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the United Democracy Project?
The United Democracy Project (FEC ID C00799031) is the super PAC affiliated with AIPAC. Launched ahead of the 2022 midterms, it spends money independently to support or oppose congressional candidates — primarily through advertising in Democratic primaries. In GovGreed’s data it has spent about $68.5 million.
How is it different from the AIPAC PAC?
The AIPAC PAC (C00797670) gives money directly to campaigns, capped by federal limits. The United Democracy Project is a super PAC: it cannot give to campaigns, but it can raise and spend unlimited sums on independent expenditures — ads for or against candidates — as long as it doesn’t coordinate with them.
Is the United Democracy Project funded by Israel?
No. It is an American super PAC registered with the FEC and funded by U.S. donors. It is not a foreign agent under FARA and is not funded by the Israeli government. It is a domestic political-spending vehicle, like super PACs aligned with other industries and causes.
How much has the United Democracy Project spent?
In GovGreed’s two-committee tally, about $68.5 million across the 2022, 2024 and 2026 cycles, concentrated on a few dozen high-stakes races. Its largest interventions were roughly $9.83M opposing Jamaal Bowman and $5.22M opposing Cori Bush, both in 2024 Democratic primaries.
About this data. Spending figures are independent expenditures from the United Democracy Project (C00799031) and direct contributions from the AIPAC PAC (C00797670), cumulative across 2022–2026 per FEC filings. Pro-AIPAC spending routed through additional conduit PACs is not included. Source: FEC, Congress.gov.

Not financial advice. All data from public federal disclosures. GovGreed reports disclosed political spending and does not allege that any committee, candidate or member violated any law. Source: FEC, Congress.gov.