Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller surged to the top of the fundraising field in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary in the final months of 2025, fueled largely by an influx of out-of-state donations from contributors with a history of giving to the nation’s largest pro-Israel lobbying organization.

Miller (D-6th) raised more than $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, according to Federal Election Commission filings released Jan. 31 — nearly doubling the total of her closest competitor and vaulting her into the lead in the crowded primary to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly.

An analysis of federal campaign finance records by the Herald shows that more than 500 donors who live outside Illinois contributed roughly $892,000 to Miller’s campaign during that quarter, accounting for 87% of her fundraising. Records also show that at least 258 of Miller’s individual donors had previously given to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) or its affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project (UDP), contributing more than $470,000 — more than a third of her total fundraising overall.

This influx brought Miller’s total campaign haul to nearly $1.3 million and gave her almost $400,000 more than the next biggest fundraiser in the race, state Sen. Robert Peters (D-13th), according to FEC filings. Miller has now raised nearly as much as all nine of her competitors combined.

The records do not show direct contributions from AIPAC or UDP to Miller and neither organization has publicly endorsed her. But the concentration, timing and scale of donations from donors closely associated with the groups are unusual for a local Democratic primary. 

“Donna’s proud to have the support of a broad, diverse coalition of people who believe in her proven record, including members of the Jewish community with a wide range of views,” said Delmarie Cobb, Miller’s campaign spokesperson.

The influx of money from donors with ties to AIPAC comes as the lobbying group has shifted its approach in Democratic primaries nationwide. After spending more than $100 million in the 2024 election cycle, AIPAC has largely avoided issuing public endorsements in 2026, instead backing preferred candidates through donors and outside spending, according to reporting by The Intercept. The shift comes as the group faces growing public outrage over Israel’s war on Gaza.

Miller’s campaign has denied being endorsed by or soliciting money from the group. The campaign did not dispute that Miller has accepted donations from major AIPAC contributors who live outside the district.

The donor patterns in the 2nd District mirror those seen in another open Illinois race this cycle, the 9th Congressional District, where many of the same AIPAC-aligned contributors have supported state Sen. Laura Fine (D-9th) in her campaign to replace retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky. While Fine has said she has not sought the group’s endorsement, she told Jewish Insider in May 2025 that she met with AIPAC and Democratic Majority for Israel just before entering the race. Many of the same donors are also giving to Melissa Bean in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District Democratic primary.

The Herald contacted a dozen major donors living outside the district, asking whether their donations were coordinated by AIPAC or affiliated groups. None responded. AIPAC also did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

A Herald analysis shows that at least nine of Miller’s top donors ranked among the top 150 contributors to AIPAC and UDP during the 2023–2024 election cycle.

Among them was Jeremy Pava, a real estate investment executive based in Connecticut. Federal records show that he and his wife, Ann Pava, gave at least $283,000 to AIPAC and UDP between 2023 and 2025. The couple contributed $7,000 to Miller’s campaign — the maximum allowed contribution per person — in mid-December and also gave maximum donations to Fine and Bean.

Among Miller’s in-state donors is Jerry Bednyak, a co-founder of Vivid Seats who lives in suburban Glencoe, which is not in the 2nd District. FEC records show he has given at least $1.1 million to AIPAC and UDP since 2020, and, like the Pavas, also contributed to Fine and Bean. He and his wife, Alexis, gave Miller the maximum allowable amount in mid-December.

The fundraising disparity has become a flashpoint in the race, particularly for Peters, the only Jewish candidate in the field. Peters has been openly critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and has participated in actions with anti-war groups, such as Not In Our Name. He has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and condemned what he has described as the “forced famine of millions of people in Gaza.”

In a statement, Peters said AIPAC wants to see him lose “because nothing hurts their agenda more than a progressive Jewish voice who knows how to organize for justice.”

Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people, mostly Israelis, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, according to a senior Israeli security official. International humanitarian agencies and researchers have said the true toll is likely higher, citing thousands of missing people and deaths linked to Gaza’s collapsed health system. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that at least 520 Palestinians have been killed since a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire went into effect in October. 

Miller’s fundraising advantage has given her a significant cash edge with early voting beginning Feb. 5 in some suburbs and Feb. 12 in Chicago, ahead of the March 17 primary.

By comparison, Peters raised about $210,000 in the fourth quarter, bringing his total to more than $903,000. Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who has been considered a frontrunner based on name recognition, raised roughly $111,000 during the quarter for a total of about $206,000. State Sen. Willie Preston (D-16th) raised nearly $40,000 for a total of almost $120,000, while Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Yumeka Brown raised about $28,000, bringing her total to just under $100,000.

“Trump and his allies are pouring millions into Donna Miller’s campaign to get another member of Congress they can control,” Jackson said in an emailed statement. “Every candidate in this race owes the voters transparency on where their money is coming from — and what they owe in return.”

The sprawling Democratic-leaning district stretches from Chicago’s 43rd Street south along Lake Michigan to Danville in Vermilion County, covering a wide swath of urban, suburban and rural voters.

An early December poll commissioned by Miller’s campaign showed Jackson leading with 24% support, followed by Miller and Brown at 9%, Preston at 6% and Peters at 5%. About 44% of voters were undecided. A second poll that introduced voters to the candidates showed Miller jumping to 32% if she could communicate her platform widely. In mid-January, Miller launched a digital and television ad campaign to boost her profile. 

A newly formed super PAC, Affordable Chicago Now!, has also purchased $300,000 in television advertising supporting Miller’s candidacy. The Peters campaign has alleged the group is funded by AIPAC, though the super PAC has not disclosed its donors and is not expected to do so until after the primary. Affordable Chicago Now! did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The 2022 Democratic primary in the neighboring 1st Congressional District offers a potential roadmap for Miller to eke out a victory. In that race, Jonathan Jackson won a 17-candidate field with just 28% of the vote after leading the fundraising field with more than $700,000. Fundraising totals in that race largely aligned with the candidates’ vote shares.

Over the past few months, Miller has faced repeated attacks from opponents accusing her of being quietly backed by AIPAC. The accusations followed Miller attending an AIPAC-sponsored event at a private Jewish day school in Maryland in mid-December. Miller’s campaign later reposted an Instagram photo from the school showing Miller with students and labeled “AIPAC-proud.”

In early December, Miller told the Herald she was still developing her position on U.S. military funding to Israel.

“I want to educate myself on what these issues look like, and I’d be making sure that I give it all fair balance,” she said.

But in a later statement, Miller said she believes “Israel plays a key role in U.S. and regional security, and that a two-state solution remains the best path to lasting peace.” She said she has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war and humanitarian relief and said she is encouraged by the current ceasefire.

In her role as commissioner, Miller has taken some steps to support the south suburbs’ large Palestinian American community, sponsoring a 2025 Cook County resolution declaring April 7 as Little Palestine Day.

Miller has been endorsed by Schakowsky and U.S. Rep Brad Schneider (D-10th), former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, 16 suburban mayors and most of her fellow members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has endorsed Peters.