ADL Midwest Criticizes Incoming Rep. Biss, Sparking Backlash

The Anti-Defamation League's Midwest chapter issued a formal critique of incoming Illinois congressman Daniel Biss shortly after his election victory was confirmed on Tuesday night. The statement expressed serious concerns regarding Biss's historical approach to antisemitism and his political positions.

Biss, who won a decisive victory in the suburban Chicago district of Illinois 9, responded on Wednesday to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. He described the ADL's actions as a deviation from its civil rights roots, stating that the group had devolved into an entity that traffics in fear and extremism. Biss argued that this rhetoric undermines the safety of Jewish people rather than protecting it.

The ADL Midwest, led by senior regional director Rebecca Weininger, cited specific decisions from Biss's tenure as mayor of Evanston. These included his choice not to use local police to disperse a pro-Palestinian encampment at Northwestern University and his opposition to a state law restricting pension fund investments. The group also noted his campaign's opposition to the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, which had heavily funded a different Democratic primary candidate.

Weininger stated that the organization expects Biss to recognize when rhetoric about Israel crosses into collective blame or hostility. She emphasized the need for respectful engagement with Jewish constituents who hold differing views.

Other Jewish organizations quickly pushed back against the criticism. The Nexus Project, a rival antisemitism monitor, declared the ADL wrong and criticized its strategy of creating adversarial relationships with progressive members. J Street, a liberal Zionist group, labeled the timing of the criticism a communal embarrassment, noting that the ADL failed to congratulate the new representative on Election Night.

The ADL's national office released a statement late Wednesday that did not name specific candidates. It highlighted the dangers of portraying Jews as disloyal and expressed readiness to work with leaders of both parties. Meanwhile, the Midwest office issued a follow-up statement on Wednesday morning saying it looks forward to working with elected officials in the region.

While the Midwest office's second message congratulated other winning Illinois politicians, including Jewish Governor JB Pritzker, it omitted Biss's name. Biss continued to argue in his statement that Jewish safety is intertwined with the safety of other marginalized communities, noting that President Donald Trump has made Jews less safe at home and abroad.