Rising anxieties about antisemitism and the Democratic Party's approach to Israel are creating a significant challenge for the party's coalition ahead of the November midterm elections. A notable portion of Jewish voters are expressing dissatisfaction with some Democrats' perceived reluctance to forcefully condemn antisemitism within their progressive wing, a sentiment that could impact crucial Senate races across the country.
Despite these concerns, polling from the Jewish Electorate Institute in March indicated that nearly three-quarters of Jewish voters still planned to support Democratic candidates. However, recent developments suggest this landscape is shifting.
Michigan Senate Race
In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is working to mend ties with the Jewish community following a primary election where he made controversial statements regarding Jews and Israel. A local rabbi noted to The New York Times that members of his predominantly Democratic congregation were divided in their electoral choices. Rabbi Starr expressed disappointment that "so many politicians and pundits and podcasters seem to single out Israel and American supporters of Israel for criticism" during the primary season.
Over 400 Jewish Democrats and Independents have publicly pledged to support El-Sayed's Republican opponent, former Congressman Mike Rogers. El-Sayed's campaign has since intensified outreach efforts to Jewish voters.
Texas and Georgia Senate Races
In Texas, Democratic nominee James Talarico has described Israel's actions in Gaza as "war crimes" and has advocated for the U.S. to cease arming Israel, though he affirms Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Talarico's campaign manager, Seth Krasne, stated to NBC that Talarico has a "longstanding record combating antisemitism, defending Jewish students on the floor of the Texas House, and supporting Israel's right to exist," which demonstrates his commitment to Jewish safety.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who is Jewish himself, has faced criticism for not offering what some consider "ironclad" support for Israel in his closely contested re-election race.
National Trends and AIPAC's Role
Nationwide, support from AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has become a point of contention. In several states, including New York, Michigan, and Minnesota, incumbent Democrats endorsed by AIPAC, often representing the party's moderate wing, lost their primaries to progressive challengers whose platforms were viewed as critical of Israel, or worse, antisemitic.
Joel Rubin, a former Obama administration official and Jewish outreach director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign, noted in an op-ed that even then, Sanders' campaign recognized the importance of Jewish voters and the potential for anti-Zionist voices within the coalition to jeopardize support.
In California and New York City, Jewish candidates such as Scott Wiener and Brad Lander have faced criticism for not being progressive enough, a critique some attribute to their Jewish identity. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was elected last year, has also faced scrutiny over his past remarks regarding Jewish and Muslim communities. Despite requests from constituents, including 9/11 victims' families, to skip the 25th anniversary commemoration of the tragedy, he has indicated his intention to attend.
With 56 days remaining until the November midterms, the allegiances of Jewish voters are uncertain in several pivotal contests that could determine congressional control.
