House Minority Whip Katherine Clark secured victory Tuesday in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District, overcoming challenges from two progressive contenders who centered their campaigns on the war in Gaza and political funding tied to Israel.
Clark, first elected in 2013 and serving as House Democratic Whip since 2022, handily defeated Jonathan Paz and Tarik Samman in the safely Democratic district. Paz, a former city councilor, educator, and union organizer, and Samman, a Harvard Law School researcher and union organizer, sought to make criticism of U.S. aid to Israel and the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups central to the race.
Clark's campaign significantly out-raised both challengers, reporting $4.5 million in contributions compared to Paz's $88,500 and Samman's $43,800, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The incumbent has received endorsements from influential pro-Israel groups, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Despite accepting support from AIPAC, Clark has publicly expressed criticism regarding the Israeli government's actions in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In the past, she has used the term "genocide" in reference to the situation, later clarifying her remarks. In July, she voted against a $3.3 billion military aid package, stating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had not aligned with U.S. interests and values. However, Clark continues to support Israel's status as a sovereign Jewish state and advocates for U.S. defensive assistance, while remaining critical of Netanyahu's leadership.
Samman and Paz argued during their campaigns that Clark's criticism of Israel's conduct had not extended to renouncing funding from AIPAC. Clark, who ran unopposed in the 2024 general election, previously defeated Republican Caroline Colarusso with 74% of the vote in 2022.