Newly released records reveal the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, was the primary funding organization behind two ostensibly independent super PACs that spent heavily to reshape Chicago-area Democratic congressional primaries — a connection the groups did not disclose during the campaign.

The records also show the groups received significant sums from individual megadonors, including Michael Sacks, who led the local host committee for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

United Democracy Project, AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, directed more than $5.3 million to bankroll the groups Elect Chicago Women and Affordable Chicago Now, according to Federal Election Commission filings released Friday night.

The two super PACs, along with UDP itself, emerged as the largest outside spenders in Chicago’s four competitive congressional primaries, part of a surge that reached an unprecedented $32.9 million in outside spending. But who was behind and funded the groups remained shrouded until after the March 17 primary election, a tactic that sparked controversy as opponents decried hidden influence.

The newly released records undercut that opacity, showing the groups were largely financed through AIPAC’s network. In addition to the United Democracy Project’s contributions, several major individual donors also funneled money to the two super PACs, each of which has given to AIPAC or United Democracy Project in recent years, according to campaign finance records.

Among them was Democratic megadonor Michael Sacks, a close ally and outside adviser of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Sacks contributed $1.2 million to Elect Chicago Women and Affordable Chicago Now. He has also helped raise more than $10 million to oppose Mayor Brandon Johnson and his progressive allies. Sacks did not respond to requests for comment.

Another top contributor, Anthony “Tony” Davis, co-founder of Linden Capital Partners, gave $2 million, making him the largest individual donor.

Because the two super PACs were officially established early this year, federal regulations did not require them to disclose their contributors until after the primary — a gap that allowed their financial backing to remain hidden during the campaign.

Throughout that period, representatives for Elect Chicago Women and Affordable Chicago Now did not respond to calls or emails. AIPAC representatives, including Chicago-based leader Martin Ritter, also declined to comment when asked about connections between the groups and AIPAC during the campaign. Asked again after the records were released, Ritter, a former Chicago Teachers Union organizer, declined to comment.

Even as the groups avoided direct acknowledgment, reporting by the Tribune and other outlets identified parallels between their spending and that of organizations openly tied to AIPAC, describing them as “AIPAC-linked.” The filings now confirm those assessments.

Ahead of the primary, the groups’ public-facing materials offered little clarity about their purpose.

The organizations maintained bare-bones websites that used stock photos and short, generic descriptions. Elect Chicago Women’s site, for instance, includes two apparent stock photos of women flexing their arms and a three-sentence paragraph declaring, “Women have led the charge for equity, labor rights, and accountable government.” The sites made no mention of the groups’ apparent true focus: electing candidates who support pro-Israel policies.

Altogether, Affordable Chicago Now, Elect Chicago Women and United Democracy Project spent over $19.7 million in the four races. Another group that demonstrated similar spending patterns, showing apparent AIPAC ties, the Chicago Progressive Partnership, spent $2 million, though its funding sources have yet to be disclosed.

The massive advertising campaigns the groups ran with broadcast television commercials, mailed fliers and highway billboards avoided U.S.-Israel policy. The groups also paid for substantial get-out-the-vote campaigns.

Instead, as AIPAC faced heightened criticism after the U.S. and Israel launched a war in Iran last month, the super PACs focused on less controversial issues such as affordability.

The final results were mixed: Two of the candidates backed by AIPAC won and two lost.

Elect Chicago Women spent $4.5 million supporting former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean in the 8th Congressional District, plus $5.8 million to support state Sen. Laura Fine and oppose Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss in the 9th Congressional District. Bean and Biss won.

Affordable Chicago Now spent $4.4 million to support Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller in the 2nd Congressional District. Miller won.

United Democracy Project spent $5 million to support Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin in her unsuccessful 7th Congressional District primary race.

Chicago Progressive Partnership spent $2 million in total to oppose Junaid Ahmed in the 8th District and Kat Abughazaleh in the 9th District. Both lost.

Miller, Conyears-Ervin, Bean and Fine also received a large amount of direct campaign contributions from people who had recently contributed to AIPAC or United Democracy Project. Those contributions totaled $3.7 million by late February, according to an analysis by the Tribune that matched contributor names and ZIP codes.