ADL Midwest Criticizes Progressive Congressman-Elect Daniel Biss

Daniel Biss, the newly elected representative for the 9th Congressional District in suburban Chicago, responded sharply to a critical statement from the local Anti-Defamation League. The ADL Midwest branch issued a critique late on Election Night, just hours after Biss had secured his victory. The organization expressed serious concerns regarding his approach to antisemitism, a move that Biss argued undermined the broader cause of keeping the Jewish community safe.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Biss described the ADL's actions as a deviation from its historical role as a preeminent civil rights organization. He stated that the group had begun to rely on fear and intimidation. Biss, who is the grandson of Holocaust survivors and held Israeli citizenship in his youth, emphasized that such rhetoric does not protect Jewish people but instead weakens their standing.

The ADL Midwest statement, authored by senior regional director Rebecca Weininger, cited specific policies from Biss's tenure as mayor of Evanston. The organization highlighted his decision not to involve local police in dispersing a pro-Palestinian encampment at Northwestern University. They also took issue with his objection to a state law that restricted pension fund investments in companies boycotting Israel, as well as his campaign's opposition to AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group that had spent heavily on a rival Democratic candidate.

Weininger wrote that the ADL expected Biss to recognize when discussions about Israel or AIPAC crossed into antisemitic tropes or collective blame. The statement called for him to engage respectfully with Jewish constituents, even those who held differing views and beliefs from his own. The timing of the release, on the night of his victory, was noted by observers as a significant departure from traditional celebratory protocols.

Biss is not the only progressive Jewish legislator facing scrutiny from the ADL. An ADL office in Philadelphia issued a similar statement on Election Night regarding Chris Rabb, another progressive who won a seat in Congress. This pattern of engagement has drawn attention to how the organization interacts with the growing number of progressive Jewish lawmakers heading to Washington, alongside figures like New York congressman-elect Brad Lander.

Other Jewish advocacy groups quickly criticized the ADL Midwest's stance. The Nexus Project, a rival monitor of antisemitism, stated that the ADL was wrong and that creating adversarial relationships with progressive members was a self-defeating strategy. J Street, a liberal Zionist lobby, described the ADL's decision to lead with concerns rather than congratulations as a communal embarrassment, using the term Shanda to describe the situation.

Following the initial backlash, the ADL Midwest office issued a second statement on Wednesday morning. In this follow-up, the group said it looked forward to working with elected officials in the region to protect the Jewish community. While the new statement congratulated other winning Illinois politicians, including Jewish Governor JB Pritzker, it notably did not include Biss by name.

In his own follow-up comments, Biss asserted that the safety of Jewish people is inextricably linked to the safety of all marginalized communities. He also pointed to the current administration, stating that President Donald Trump has made Jews less safe both domestically and abroad. This perspective highlighted the differing viewpoints on what constitutes effective advocacy for Jewish safety in the current political landscape.

The ADL’s national office released its own statement on election results late Wednesday. Without naming specific candidates, the organization noted that the recent campaign season highlighted the dangers of portraying Jews as disloyal or responsible for societal issues. The national office added that the group stands ready to collaborate with leaders from both parties at every level of government to address these challenges.