Pro-Israel Groups Campaign Against Former GOP Congressman Running for Old Seat

Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) at a Make America Great Again rally in Evansville, Ind., on Aug. 30, 2018. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

Pro-Israel groups have launched a campaign against a former congressman who has a record hostile toward Israel.

The Republican Jewish Coalition and the United Democracy Project (UDP), the latter of which is affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, announced they are campaigning against former Rep. John Hostettler (R-Ind.), who is running for his old seat in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District to succeed retiring Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.).

Jewish Insider first reported UDP’s ad campaign against Mr. Hostettler.

A spokesperson for the group confirmed the report that it has a $500,000 ad buy.

In the 30-second UDP ad, a narrator states: “What kind of Republican votes against supporting Israel? John Hostettler did. Hostettler was only one of nine Republicans who voted not to condemn terrorism.

“John Hostettler voted against giving aid to Israel over and over again. Hostettler is one of the most anti-Israel politicians in America. With Israel under attack, we can’t send John Hostettler to Congress.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) has reserved $1 million in television ads in Mr. Bucshon’s district against Mr. Hostettler starting April 10, it said in an April 4 statement.

The RJC is supporting state Sen. Mark Messmer in the May 7 primary.

“We are deeply troubled by John Hostettler’s past record and RJC is committed to ensuring he does not get back to Congress,” said RJC CEO Matt Brooks in a statement.

“Hostettler has consistently opposed vital aid to Israel, trafficked antisemitic conspiracy theories, and voted against a 2000 resolution which supported Israel and condemned Palestinian leadership over the violence of the second Intifada,” he continued.

A contact for the Hostettler campaign could not be found.

His campaign website only consists of a video of him announcing his candidacy where he does not mention Israel, but laments the United States getting involved on the world stage in countries such as Ukraine.

He also blasts the fiscal mess in Washington.

Mr. Hostettler was in Congress between 1995 and 2007. He voted against the Iraq War. He lost in 2006 to former Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.).

UDP, according to its website, “is an organization comprised of American citizens—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—united in the belief that America’s partnership with our democratic ally Israel benefits both countries.

“United Democracy Project works to help elect candidates that share our vision and will be strong supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship in Congress.”

UDP was founded in 2021 as AIPAC and made its first foray into the election campaign arena by boosting pro-Israel candidates on both sides of the aisle and opposing anti-Israel candidates, mostly Democrats.

Its first campaign cycle was the 2022 midterms.

This year, UDP is especially looking to unseat members of the far-left and anti-Israel Congressional group “The Squad” including Reps. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.).

UDP and RJC are not the only pro-Israel groups taking on anti-Israel candidates.

Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) announced on April 3 its backing of Westchester County Executive George Latimer and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell.

Mr. Bell is running in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District to take on Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), while Mr. Latimer is running in New York’s 16th Congressional District against Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.).

DMFI has endorsed 96 Congressional candidates—11 of whom are not incumbents.

The DMFI endorsements exemplify a pattern of groups in the Jewish and pro-Israel community endorsing primary opponents against candidates they consider to be hostile toward Israel, especially in the aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023—the largest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Mr. Bowman and Ms. Bush have a record that has been criticized as hostile toward Israel.