Katherine Clark Wins Massachusetts Primary Despite Challenges Over Gaza and AIPAC Ties

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark won her party’s primary Tuesday in Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District, defeating two progressive challengers who tried to make Gaza policy and pro-Israel campaign spending central issues in the safely Democratic Boston-area seat.

Clark defeated Jonathan Paz, a former city councilor, educator and union organizer, and Tarik Samman, a 27-year-old Harvard Law School researcher and union organizer. She was first elected to the seat in a 2013 special election and has served as House Democratic whip since 2022, making her the second-highest ranking Democrat in the chamber after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

In her leadership role, Clark has helped organize Democratic opposition to Republican spending, immigration and healthcare measures, including recent pushback against ICE funding and GOP cuts to Head Start and Medicaid.

Fundraising Gap

Clark’s campaign vastly outraised her opponents. She brought in $4.5 million, compared to $88,500 for Paz and $43,800 for Samman, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Israel Policy at the Center

The race turned in part on Clark’s relationship with AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which endorsed her and has contributed to her campaigns in the past. AIPAC is an influential pro-Israel lobbying group that has faced criticism for pushing U.S. military aid to Israel during the war in Gaza.

Clark has taken an increasingly critical stance toward the Israeli government’s conduct of that war. Last year, she used the word “genocide” at a district event before clarifying that she was not accusing Israel of genocide. In July, she voted to cut $3.3 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had failed to meet U.S. interests and values.

Despite that criticism, Clark continues to support Israel as a sovereign Jewish state and has backed U.S. assistance for some Israeli defensive systems.

Samman and Paz argued during the campaign that Clark’s criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza did not go far enough, pointing to the fact that she has not renounced the AIPAC money she has accepted over the years.

An Established Incumbent

Clark ran unopposed in the 2024 general election. Her most recent general election contest came in 2022, when she defeated Republican Caroline Colarusso, 74% to 26%.