(Patriot.Buzz) – In a sign that a majority of the GOP still stands firmly, anti-Israel Republican John Hostettler has been defeated in his primary bid for the House in Indiana.
His loss marks a win for pro-Israel groups who campaigned against his return to Washington.
Hostettler was put on blast for not supporting Israel while Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is facing criticism due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza.
The election results showed Indiana state senate majority leader Mark Messmer winning 40% of the votes and securing a position in the November general election.
Messmer is expected to win in the mostly Republican district in order to succeed retiring Congressman Larry Bucshon.
Hostettler, a former congressman from 1995 to 2007, faced fierce opposition from pro-Israel groups who spent millions to highlight his voting record and controversial remarks.
After his time in Congress, Hostettler wrote a book accusing George W. Bush administration advisors with “Jewish backgrounds” of pushing the U.S. into the Iraq war to protect Israel.
These statements and his vote against a resolution supporting Israel in 2000 during the second intifada sparked backlash from influential groups like the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) and the United Democracy Project (UDP), which has ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Both the UDP and RJC funded campaigns supporting Messmer to emphasize Hostettler’s anti-Israel stance.
The fact that both groups have been involved in this Republican primary shows a strategic shift from their typical focus on Democratic races, where they have previously invested a lot of money.
This primary season, UDP has also targeted progressives within the Democratic Party and has spent millions against candidates less supportive of Israel.
Their broad election cycle strategy reportedly includes plans to spend up to $100 million.
Overall, Republican members and voters have shown strong support for Israel especially during the recent Gaza conflict. This reflects a significant partisan divide on U.S. foreign policy towards Israel.
This support can also be seen in public statements and polling data that consistently show higher Republican approval of Israel’s military actions compared to Democrats and independents.
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