Vice President Kamala Harris maintains strong support among Jewish voters as the 2024 presidential election approaches, according to a new survey by a Jewish Democratic group.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America announced in a new national poll of Jewish voters that there is overwhelming support for Vice President Kamala Harris. Seventy-two percent of Jewish voters back her, and only 25 percent support former President Donald Trump.
“Nearly all—91%—of Jewish voters are concerned about antisemitism in the United States, and Jewish voters trust Kamala Harris more than Donald Trump to fight antisemitism by nearly a three-to-one margin,” the council posted.
Harris has not only inherited Jewish support from President Joe Biden but has expanded it significantly since becoming the Democratic nominee. She now leads Trump by 47 points, up from Biden’s 41-point lead among Jewish voters in April.
In the 2020 election, according to a report published by the Pew Research Center, 70 percent of Jewish Americans voted for Biden, while 27 percent voted for Trump.
Other findings related to American Jews’ feelings toward Israel showed that while Israel was seen as important by 75 percent of voters, it ranked only ninth on a list of 11 issues in terms of its importance to their vote. The war in Gaza and antisemitism in the United States have been frequent topics of discussion in the 2024 campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C., on June 6, 2023. A new poll by the Jewish Democratic Council of America shows overwhelming support by Jewish voters for Harris.
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Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war has become a significant point of contention, with many Americans expressing dissatisfaction. A recent survey indicates that 41 percent of U.S. adults disapprove of his administration’s response, while only 35 percent approve. Younger Americans showed the highest levels of disapproval.
Former President Donald Trump has sought to leverage this discontent, especially within the Jewish community. Trump has claimed on multiple occasions this election cycle that he is the better candidate for Jewish voters, saying that any Jew who votes for the Democratic ticket needs to get “their head examined.“
“She’s been very, very bad to Israel, and she’s been bad and disrespectful to the Jewish people,” Trump said of Harris, whose husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish.
Trump has also suggested that the choice of Tim Walz as Harris’ running mate, instead of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish and pro-Israel, was due to antisemitism.
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However, recent polls indicate that the Trump campaign’s efforts appear to be falling short, with the Democratic campaign not only maintaining its lead but also increasing it as the election approaches.
Despite this, some prominent voices argue that the Democratic Party is not the best choice for Jewish voters. Attorney Alan Dershowitz recently announced his departure from the Democratic Party, calling it the “most anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, anti-Zionist convention” he has ever witnessed.
Former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 5. Trump is facing criticism after saying that any Jewish person who votes for Democrats “hates” their religion and Israel.
Getty/Win McNamee
Dershowitz, a Harvard Law emeritus, made his announcement on the Talkline with Zev Brenner podcast. He criticized key figures who spoke at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
He went so far as to call Warren and Sanders “two of the most anti-Jewish people in the Senate.” Sanders is Jewish.
In a speech at the DNC, Harris reiterated her commitment to the U.S.-Israel alliance, saying that, as president, she would stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself because no one should have to go through a terrorist attack.
She noted, however, that Palestinians have faced “devastation” over the last ten months. Harris said she would fight for their right to self-determination.
There have been pro-Palestinian protesters outside—and inside—of her rallies. During a campaign speech on Wednesday in Michigan, Harris was heckled by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
The support for Harris among Jewish voters could prove decisive in several key battleground states, like Pennsylvania, where the Jewish electorate has historically played a significant role in determining election outcomes.
