Poll Shows Cracks Emerging in Jewish Support for Harris as Election Nears

Concerns over security, Israel, and antisemitism are drawing Jewish voters toward the Trump-Vance ticket, according to a new survey from the Manhattan Institute, suggesting that Vice President Harris in November could see the lowest Jewish support for a Democratic candidate in decades.Polling conducted October 5-9 finds that Jewish voter support for the Democratic ticket is at its lowest in nearly four decades. While issues such as abortion, the economy, and election integrity rank as top concerns, 41 percent of respondents reported being “extremely concerned” about antisemitism within the Democratic Party.The data underscore the anxiety within the Jewish community over the party’s approach to Israel and its tolerance of anti-Israel rhetoric from some progressive lawmakers. The survey also suggests that voters believe the Democratic Party has not adequately addressed their concerns on antisemitism, leaving many Jewish voters disillusioned.On issues concerning immigration, Jewish voters remain broadly pro-immigration. Yet a majority expressed support for enhanced screening in visa and naturalization processes, advocating for stricter measures to identify affiliations with terrorist organizations or involvement in antisemitic activities.The survey also sheds light on attitudes toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Twenty-one percent of Jewish voters believe that DEI policies effectively promote diversity and reduce antisemitism, while 24 percent opine that these efforts could, in fact, exacerbate antisemitic sentiment. A preference for a color-blind society over race-conscious policies is clearly evident among respondents.As the 2024 election approaches, Ms. Harris finds herself facing a daunting challenge: reconnecting with a critical constituency that feels increasingly alienated. For the Trump-Vance ticket, the data present an opportunity to make inroads into a demographic that has long eluded Republican strategists.In response to these trends, the Trump campaign has ramped up its outreach to Jewish voters, choosing to visit the resting place of the Lubavitcher rebbe, an admired Jewish leader, and creating a coalition group called Jewish Voices for Trump to rally support. Pro-Israel figures such as the ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, have been campaigning in support of Trump.The Republican Jewish Coalition has invested $10 million in an ad campaign spanning across swing states, highlighting the Democratic Party’s handling of antisemitism. Other groups such as Secure America Now have utilized TV ads to highlight Trump’s pro-Israel policies.The Harris campaign has attempted to use congressional surrogates such as Representatives Ritchie Torres, Dan Goldman, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz as part of their outreach to Jewish communities in battleground states.Ms. Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, has played a prominent role in outreach because of his Jewish heritage. Mr. Harris has attempted to walk the electoral tightrope between those voices critical of Israel and those who support it.“Jewish voters still lean Democratic, but concerns over antisemitism, Israel, and security are contributing to cracks in that support. A majority now say they are open to backing Republican candidates,” the executive director of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute, Jesse Arm, says.“Our poll shows Kamala Harris on track to perform worse with Jewish voters than any Democratic candidate since the Reagan era, while Trump’s standing is improving — paralleling his gains with other minority groups.”

Poll Shows Cracks Emerging in Jewish Support for Harris as Election Nears

Poll Shows Cracks Emerging in Jewish Support for Harris as Election Nears

More from the New York Sun

Off-Broadway Brings Back the American Masters

Americans Believe Government Corruption Is Widespread, Gallup Poll Finds

New York City To Ban AI for Younger Students, Cap Screen Time in Sweeping New School Policy

Ferrari’s CZ26 Makes Amends for the SF90

Bessent Unleashes Growth in Front of the G20

The Fraught Legacy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Iran Considering Attacks Ahead of Elections in America and Israel

Ruling Clouds Liberal Push To Tax Energy Companies for Changing Weather

More from the New York Sun

Off-Broadway Brings Back the American Masters

Americans Believe Government Corruption Is Widespread, Gallup Poll Finds

New York City To Ban AI for Younger Students, Cap Screen Time in Sweeping New School Policy

Ferrari’s CZ26 Makes Amends for the SF90

Bessent Unleashes Growth in Front of the G20

The Fraught Legacy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Iran Considering Attacks Ahead of Elections in America and Israel

Ruling Clouds Liberal Push To Tax Energy Companies for Changing Weather