In a significant political upset in Indiana, Republican John Hostettler has lost his House primary race. This defeat marks a victory for pro-Israel groups who actively campaigned against the former congressman, preventing his return to Washington. These groups targeted Hostettler due to concerns over his stance on Israel, particularly amidst heightened global scrutiny of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Associated Press announced the results of the eighth district primary at 7:49 pm ET, shortly after polls closed in Indiana. Mark Messmer, the Indiana state senate majority leader, secured a decisive lead with 40% of the vote. Messmer is now poised to advance to the general election in November and is widely expected to win, given the Republican stronghold in the district. He will succeed Republican congressman Larry Bucshon, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
This primary election was characterized by intense campaigning and significant financial investment from pro-Israel organizations. These groups directed substantial resources into the district to oppose Hostettler, who previously served in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2007. Their criticism centered on Hostettler’s past voting record concerning Israel and statements he had made that were widely condemned as antisemitic.
A key point of contention was a book self-published by Hostettler in 2008, after his departure from Congress. In this book, Hostettler controversially attributed the decision to invade Iraq partly to advisors of George W Bush “with Jewish backgrounds,” suggesting their motivation was to protect Israel. These remarks, coupled with Hostettler’s 2000 vote against a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel following the start of the second intifada, ignited outrage among groups such as the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) and the United Democracy Project (UDP). UDP is a Super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Federal Election Commission filings reveal the scale of financial intervention in this primary race. UDP reportedly spent $1.2 million specifically to oppose John Hostettler, while the RJC Victory Fund invested $950,000 to support Messmer’s campaign.
One particularly impactful UDP advertisement labeled Hostettler as “one of the most anti-Israel politicians in America,” highlighting his 2000 vote against the resolution. Matt Brooks, CEO of RJC, had previously criticized Hostettler for “consistently opposed vital aid to Israel [and] trafficked antisemitic conspiracy theories.”
The involvement of these pro-Israel groups in a Republican primary represents a notable shift in their recent political engagement. In the current election cycle, UDP has primarily focused its considerable financial resources on targeting progressive candidates in Democratic primaries. For instance, UDP spent $4.6 million opposing Democratic candidate Dave Min, and allocated $2.4 million to support Democrat Sarah Elfreth in Maryland’s upcoming primaries.
AIPAC and its affiliates are reported to be planning expenditures of $100 million throughout this election cycle. While UDP may engage in further Republican congressional primaries, their primary focus is expected to remain on Democratic races. This strategic focus aligns with the generally stronger support for Israel among Republican lawmakers and voters, especially since the onset of the war in Gaza.
A review by The Guardian of statements from members of Congress after the Gaza war began indicated unanimous support for Israel among Republicans. Despite increasing global criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, a Gallup poll from March revealed that 64% of Republicans approve of Israel’s military actions, contrasting sharply with 18% of Democrats and 29% of independents holding the same view.
Recent polls also indicate that a majority of Americans favor a ceasefire in Gaza. This week saw brief surges of hope for a pause in the conflict, following an announcement from Hamas leaders on Monday that they would accept a ceasefire proposal. However, Israel quickly responded by launching an operation to control the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, stating that the proposed terms did not meet their essential requirements. Negotiations are anticipated to continue in the days ahead.
