Contributor Report: Ben Allen for Senate 2022
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California political donor ‘Ben Allen for Senate 2022’ is associated with documented pro-Israel advocacy through direct campaign contributions, legislative actions, and Senator Ben Allen’s affiliations and public statements.
Financial Contributions and Donors:
Senator Ben Allen’s campaigns have received direct contributions from entities identified with pro-Israel and Zionist advocacy. The “Israel lobby direct contributions” to Ben Allen totaled $88,600, according to track-jpac, a political action committee focused on pro-Israel and Zionist advocacy and political influence within California state government. These contributions were received between 2013 and 2025, thus encompassing the period of the ‘Ben Allen for Senate 2022’ campaign.
Notable contributors include:
- California Jewish PAC: This organization is described as a “primary vehicle for pro-Israel and Zionist advocacy and political influence within California state government,” contributing $24,200 between 2021-2025.
- Fisher Family Members (Doris, Robert J., William S., John J.): These individuals contributed a combined total of $55,600 between 2013-2025. They are identified as prominent donors with documented ties to pro-Israel organizations, Zionist advocacy, and significant financial support to organizations such as Birthright Israel and AIPAC, as well as funding Israeli political figures and pro-Israel political candidates.
- California Jewish Legislative Caucus Leadership PAC: This PAC, identified as the “political financing arm of a legislative caucus dedicated to promoting pro-Israel legislation, strengthening California-Israel ties, and countering anti-Zionism,” contributed $8,800 in 2017.
Legislative Actions and Affiliations:
Senator Ben Allen has held significant roles within the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, serving as a member, Vice-Chair, and Chair. This caucus actively promotes pro-Israel legislation and strengthens California-Israel ties.
Key legislative and advocacy efforts associated with Senator Allen and the Jewish Caucus include:
- Anti-BDS Legislation: In 2016, Allen was involved in the effort to sponsor AB 2844, a measure that prohibits the state of California from contracting with companies that violate state anti-discrimination laws by participating in boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) targeting the State of Israel and its citizens. This bill was signed into law.
- California-Israel Memorandum of Understanding: The Jewish Caucus’s legislative agenda included efforts to reaffirm and strengthen California’s Memorandum of Understanding with Israel on issues such as renewable energy, drought management, cybersecurity, high tech, and bio tech.
- Combatting Antisemitism on Campuses: The Jewish Caucus was instrumental in the adoption of Principles of Tolerance by the University of California Board of Regents to address antisemitic acts on UC campuses.
- Trips to Israel: In 2019, while chairing the Jewish Caucus, Allen organized a trip to Israel for legislators to foster economic ties, stating that the week was “packed with meetings about everything from the economic situation to the political situation”.
- Commemorating Israel: Allen, as Vice-Chair of the Jewish Caucus, hosted a Senate floor ceremony commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the State of Israel.
- Ethnic Studies Curriculum: As Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, Allen released a statement in 2020 supporting ethnic studies while expressing “serious concerns about certain aspects of the draft model curriculum,” with the hope for modifications. This concern arose amid pushback from pro-Israel groups regarding the inclusion of Palestinian histories and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement in earlier drafts.
- Recent Legislative Involvement (AB 2664 & AB 1468): In 2026, Ben Allen is listed as a sponsor of AB 2664, described as a bill “shielding sales of Occupied Palestine” and sponsored by the Legislative Jewish Caucus. This bill followed protests against events promoting real estate in “occupied Palestine”. Furthermore, Allen is a member of the California State Board of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission, the body vetting ethnic studies materials, which is relevant to AB 1468 (2025). AB 1468, sponsored by the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC), aims to “maintain a strong California-Israel relationship” and “combat campaigns to delegitimize and demonize Israel”.
- Personal Background: Senator Allen is a graduate of the Jewish Federation’s New Leaders Project and the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Glass Leadership Institute. The ADL is listed as a partner of “Jewish California,” an entity promoting bills and funding requests for Holocaust museums, Holocaust education, and IDF-trained private security at religious institutions, described as “Zionist organizations”.
Statements on Israel:
Following the October 7th attacks, Senator Allen visited Kibbutz K’far Aza in southern Israel, where he observed the aftermath, stating he watched with “shock and horror” as areas he had previously visited were turned into a “brutal massacre site.” He also indicated engagement with the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and Muslim elected officials to address rising tensions.
Supported Candidates
| Candidate |
Years |
Direct Contributions |
Behested Payments |
| Rick Zbur |
2021 |
$2,000 |
$0 |