“I expect groups like AIPAC will not support me in my future elections and frankly, I don’t want their support,” Ryan said in a Wednesday post on X. “Hardline stances that refuse to stand up to a corrupt and increasingly dangerous Netanyahu regime have no place in our politics.”
Ryan was one of 103 Democrats this week to vote on ending all aid to Israel, which he said is “wrong on every level.” The New York Democrat had previously voted in favor of aid to the Middle Eastern ally.
Ryan later confirmed in a reply to Track AIPAC on X that he intends to return the funds. He did not specify how much money that would include.
If Ryan follows through on his pledge, the New York Democrat could be out a sizable chunk of campaign funds. A Washington Examiner analysis of Federal Election Commission records indicates that Ryan received $791,782 through AIPAC since 2022.
Pat Ryan for Congress AIPAC donations by web-producers
The Washington Examiner’s analysis includes direct contributions from the PAC, as well as individual contributions earmarked for Ryan through AIPAC.
In direct donations from AIPAC, Ryan has amassed more than $400,000 during his four years in Congress. The congressman received more than $375,000 in individual contributions earmarked through AIPAC.
During the 2024 election cycle alone, Ryan received more than $479,000 through AIPAC. The New York Democrat was at the time waging a reelection battle against Republican Alison Esposito. Ryan won the seat by more than 14 percentage points. Former Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by 3 points.
In 2025, Ryan received more than $264,000 through AIPAC. Since the start of 2026, the New York Democrat has garnered only $500.
AIPAC’s political portal, which donors can use to send funds to candidates endorsed by the group, still listed Ryan as of press time. The New York Democrat’s biography on the site indicates his onetime strong support for Israel.
“After Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on October 7, Ryan cosponsored and backed a resolution supporting Israel and affirming its right to self-defense while condemning Hamas and its barbaric attack on the Jewish state,” the biography of Ryan says. “Ryan backed supplemental security assistance for Israel and supported a letter denouncing South Africa’s accusation of genocide against Israel before the International Court of Justice.”
AIPAC notes that as “a member of the Armed Services Committee, Ryan has signed on to a letter backing increased missile defense cooperation with Israel.”
Ryan, according to AIPAC, “also voted for resolutions establishing an envoy to focus on the Abraham Accords, calling for an expansion of the accords and commemorating the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding and stating that the United States will always be a ‘staunch supporter and partner of Israel.’”
According to the site, Ryan also “traveled to Israel with AIPAC’s sister foundation in 2023.”
“I’m here in Israel for the first time in my life,” Ryan said in a video posted on AIPAC’s social media channels. “I am here with my wife, Rebecca. It has been an incredible experience in so many dimensions. I think the thing that has stuck out most to me, especially as a veteran of the U.S. Army, is the incredible IDF.”
Yet Ryan struck a different tone in his series of social media posts on Wednesday. Track AIPAC, an organization that monitors money sent to candidates from the pro-Israel lobby, responded to Ryan’s original post asking if he would now “dump AIPAC.”
“Yes, don’t want their endorsement and returning the funds,” Ryan wrote back.
“TrackAIPAC welcomes Rep. Ryan’s decision to reject AIPAC’s endorsement and return its contributions,” the organization told the Washington Examiner, adding that it hoped “his commitment goes beyond returning money and extends to the policy choices that matter more than the money itself.”
Ryan first won election to Congress in 2022 during a special election in a swing seat in the Hudson Valley. He narrowly held on during the regularly scheduled November election under different congressional boundaries before his comfortable win in 2024.
He ended the latest filing period with $3.1 million in his campaign account, meaning his coffers could take a significant hit if he returns all the AIPAC-donated money.
DEMOCRATS SIDESTEP CRITICISM OF JEFFRIES AFTER SPLIT VOTE ON ISRAEL AID
Ryan’s GOP opponent, Jackie Auringer, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that Ryan “will do anything to appease” the Democratic Socialists of America. She added that “the only question is who will he sell out next.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to AIPAC and to Ryan’s campaign for comment.
