(Courtesy of NORPAC) On Sunday evening, Debbie and Michael Blumenthal welcomed to their home Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) for a NORPAC event in Englewood.

Smith serves on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which considers legislation related to international sanctions against entities such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

This year she cosponsored the U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act codifying the Memorandum of Understanding providing $3.3. billion annually in security assistance to Israel (plus $500 million in missile defense funding).

One of her potential Republican opponents, Jason Lewis (R-MN), was reported saying that Republicans had “dual loyalties” to Israel, adding that support for the country was the result of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and a “very strong American Jewish lobby.”

Senator Smith will be up for re-election in November 2020.