A pro-Israel Democratic group is denying its support of New Jersey congressional candidate Jason Blazakis, but emails from the Democratic Majority for Israel PAC manager appear to contradict their claims.
Blazakis touted the backing of the national group that helps pro-Israel candidates in Democratic primaries. The Democratic Majority for Israel PAC website had an active link on their website seeking contributions for Blazakis’ campaign to unseat Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield), a freshman Republican congressman who already has the endorsement of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
“An endorsement is an explicit public expression of support for a candidate,” said Rachel Rosen, a spokeswoman for DMFI and their PAC. “We have not made an endorsement in this primary which features two pro-Israel candidates.”
But emails from Augusta Y. Christiansen, the PAC manager, refute Rosen’s statement. Those emails, reviewed by the New Jersey Globe, indicate the group’s intention to endorse Blazakis. That was corroborated by a DMFI board member who said Blazakis would be their candidate.
In a short telephone call, Christiansen declined to discuss what happened between her email to the Blazakis campaign and Rosen’s denial of support.
In a statement last week, Blazakis, who may have jumped the gun on an announcement, said he was “deeply honored to receive the support of DMFI PAC.”
On Friday, the DMFI PAC website told followers to “contribute to Jason Blazakis’ congressional campaign today.”
“We help lots of candidates we don’t support,” Rosen said.
But by Saturday, that link was gone. Rosen said it was taken down because the terms of their assistance to Blazakis, a former U.S. Department of State official, were being misrepresented.
Rosen would not say if her organization had pulled links to other non-endorsed candidates, or just Blazakis.
According to Christiansen, the PAC has only endorsed two non-incumbent candidates this cycle: former Rep. Tom Suozzi, seeking George Santos’s House seat in a New York special election, and Rep. Adam Schiff, a U.S. Senate candidate in California.
She did say that Democratic Majority for Israel will not take sides between Blazakis and his opponent in the Democratic primary, Sue Atman.
“We will be releasing another list of endorsees shortly, and neither of these candidates will find their name on that list,” said Rosen. “We wish them both the very best of luck and look forward to endorsing the primary victor in the general election.”