Jewish Support for Democratic Presidential Nominee Hits Record Low
Jewish support for the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee is projected to be the lowest since the Ronald Reagan era, according to a recent poll conducted by the Manhattan Institute.
In the poll, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to secure only 67% of Jewish voters’ support, while former President Trump is gaining traction with 31% of Jewish voters. The enthusiasm for their chosen candidate is high, with more than four out of five voters describing themselves as “enthusiastic.”
While Jewish voters have historically leaned towards the Democratic party, the support has been steadily declining since the Clinton and Bush administrations. In 2020, Biden received 68% of the Jewish vote, showing a downward trend from previous years.
Recent events, such as the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas, have accelerated the shift in Jewish support towards the Democratic party.
Despite the overall Democratic favoritism among Jewish voters, there is a noticeable concern about issues related to Israel and antisemitism within the party. A significant number of Jewish voters (86%) express support for Israel, while 62% are worried about antisemitism within the Democratic party.
According to the poll, Harris’ weakest points among Jewish voters are security, Israel, and antisemitism, compared to former President Trump. Many Jewish voters are uncomfortable with the Democratic party’s stance on Israel and the tolerance of extreme criticism towards the country.
Reform and unaffiliated Jews, who tend to align more with progressive causes, are among Harris’ strongest supporters within the Jewish community. Abortion emerged as a significant campaign issue for a third of Jewish voters, contrasting with the broader American focus on the economy.
The poll, conducted from Oct. 5-9, surveyed 658 Jewish voters across the United States.
