Washington Post: Jewish Congressional Candidates Put a Focus on Anti-Semitism in the Final Days Before the Midterms

November 1, 2018

By Eugene Scott

Anti-Semitism hadn’t occupied a large share of headlines in the campaign before Saturday’s Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 Jewish people dead. But in the week ahead of the midterms, some of the nearly 60 Jewish congressional candidates —  believed to be among the largest number in history  — are pivoting to discuss the topic that has drawn attention since the tragedy.

Of course, anti-Semitism isn’t new, but something has recently changed, Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D.-Calif.) told The Fix:

“It has always been there, but I think what happened and changed in the last year and a half has allowed some of the most disturbed elements to take it to the next level and to step up, and that’s kind of frightening.

“And the present administration has certainly not helped by polarizing us and putting us into camps,” he added. The Trump administration “just has unleashed some of these forces that were there all the time. It’s not the cause of it, but we certainly need a much less toxic environment now.”

This is not the first time anti-Semitism has entered the national conversation since the last election.

After white supremacists defending Confederate memorials marched in Charlottesville in August 2017, chanting, “Jews will not replace us,” President Trump appeared to minimize their words and actions by calling them “very fine people.” But the Pittsburgh shooting is believed to be the most deadly act of anti-Semitism on U.S. soil in history.How anti-Semitism persists in the United States

Post-Holocaust prejudice against the Jews still remains — and it’s just one aspect of religious and racial tensions in modern America. (Allie Caren/The Washington Post)

As concerns grow about rising anti-Semitism, and what critics see as Trump’s role in the problem, some Jewish lawmakers appeared willing to generally call out hateful acts without addressing the harmful rhetoric, especially among those on their political team, that may have spurred it. This was the case even among those conservatives running for seats that they are certainly sure to win — and thus a reminder that avoiding an attack on Trump, no matter what, is seen as the wisest political strategy for some Republicans.

After Trump blamed “both sides” — white nationalists and counterprotesting activists — for the deadly violence during the 2017 protest in Charlottesville, many Jewish lawmakers condemned Trump’s comments. But Rep. Lee Zeldin (R.-N.Y.), a Trump supporter, defended the president’s response. He told the Times of Israel:

“I would add, though, that it is not right to suggest that President Trump is wrong for acknowledging the fact that criminals on both sides showed up for the purpose of being violent. That particular observation is completely true.”

Jewish lawmakers have been among both Trump’s biggest critics and supporters — with those on the left being critical and Republicans generally supporting him. While some, like Zeldin, have aligned themselves closely with the president due to his stances on Israel and illegal immigration, others such as Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) have frequently appeared on cable television to challenge the president’s rhetoric toward minority groups along with his relationship with leaders of Russia, North Korea and other countries.

But if the pushback against Trump in this cultural moment seems particularly hard, perhaps it is because so many lawmakers on the left seem more willing to tie Trump’s rhetoric to the actions of the massacre suspect, Robert Bowers. This is not all that surprising considering how Jewish Americans historically vote, especially in the most recent election, when more than 7 in 10 Jewish voters  chose  Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

The president’s doubling down on his rhetoric in the days following the tragedy may put the Jewish lawmakers who consistently support him on the defensive as they try to explain their support for Trump.

Responses from Republican Jewish lawmakers and candidates steered away from attacking Trump and more generally spoke out against hate.

But many of those on the left did not shy away from addressing the culture that they say the president has stoked — and that anti-Semitic groups were drawn to — since the earliest days of his campaign.

The Jewish vote could be crucial in some races in the midterm elections. According to the Jewish Electorate Institute, nearly 3 in 4 Jewish Americans plan to vote for Democrats next week. The impact this will ultimately have on the midterms, and perhaps more importantly, the new Congress’s approach to anti-Semitism and the hate crimes that accompany it, could be important.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) told The Fix that we could see some Americans frustrated with Trump’s response vote for Democrats this fall as a protest against Trump. He said:

“The president is supposed to be the symbol of a united grieving nation. That’s not Donald Trump’s strong suit, and political experts will tell you that anything that diminishes the president’s job approval ratings diminishes his party’s election results,” he said. “Being the consoler in chief, being the person that rises above our divisions — that’s not an area where Donald Trump gets a lot of high approval ratings.”

But until then, what seems to be clear is that Jewish lawmakers are moving America’s growing problem with anti-Semitism to the center as the culture wars continue beyond next week’s election.

Pulse of The Jewish Voter Amidst Iran War Shows Engagement In A Host of Issues

April 15, 2026
U.S. JEWS VOTING DEM IN CONGRESS MIDTERMS YET QUESTION WHAT PARTY STANDS FOR, ESP. ON ISRAEL JEWISH R ’ s MOST ID ’ d AS PRO-ISRAEL, NEW POLL SHOWS United in Support of Israel ’ s Right to Exist as Jewish Homeland But Mixed Concepts of Zionism Jews see too much Israel criticism playing into antisemitism While most Jews feel too many Israel supporters use antisemitism claims to avoid legitimate policy debate WASHINGTON – The latest Jewish Electorate Institute (JEI) poll shows American Jews are voting heavily Democratic in the midterm election for Congress. At the same time, Jews have questions about what the Democratic Party stands for, particularly on Israel. Jewish Republicans, on the other hand, are most identified as being pro-Israel, which is also one of their biggest image advantages over Democrats. Meanwhile, amid debates in the Jewish community over Israel, war in Iran and election politics, American Jews are united in support of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people. However, there are mixed signals over the concept of Zionism, with the majority seeing Zionism favorably, but only a third calling themselves Zionists. There is also concern about how antisemitism is becoming a part of the increasingly heated discussions over U.S.-Israel issues, by both sides. A large majority of U.S. Jews see too many critics of Israel using language about Jews that play into antisemitism, whether intended or not. At the same time, a majority of Jews feel too many supporters of Israel use claims of antisemitism to avoid legitimate debate over policy. These analyses are based on the final release of the findings of a national survey of 800 Jewish registered voters, with an oversample to yield 600 Jewish women. The survey was conducted for JEI by The Mellman Group using a high-quality online national panel from March 13-23, 2026. The margin of error for the sample as a whole is +/- 3.5% at the 95% level of confidence (higher for subgroups). Previous JEI analyses and releases centered on U.S. Jews’ pro-Israel identity and their criticism of the government, support for pro-Israel spending in the primaries and the popularity of AIPAC, DMFI and J Street. Also, on what American Jews would likely discuss at the Passover seder tables.

JEI's Spring 2026 Latest Poll

April 15, 2026
Jewish Voters Highly Engaged, Prioritize Domestic Issues; Strong Support for Israel and Caution on Military Action and Advocacy This recent March 2026 national survey finds that American Jewish adults overwhelmingly affirm Israel’s right to exist while also expressing caution about the current U.S. military escalation in Iran. Views on pro-Israel political spending, however, remain mixed. AIPAC has an overall favorable impression of 39%, DMFI 32%, and J Street 18%. Some key findings also include the following: Turnout and partisanship: Registered respondents report their very high intention to turn out for the November 2026 midterm elections. About seven in ten identify as Democrats (many strongly), roughly one in four compared to Republicans, with the remainder being made up of Independents. Democrats hold a substantial advantage in hypothetical congressional votes in respondents’ districts. Donald Trump receives broad net disapproval, and Benjamin Netanyahu is viewed unfavorably by more respondents than favorably. Israel and Zionism: There are mixed signals over the concept of Zionism, with the majority seeing Zionism favorably, but only a third calling themselves Zionists. Roughly seven in ten hold a favorable view of Israel; 87% endorse Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish homeland. Most see Zionism as Jewish self‑determination, though only a third self‑identify as Zionist. A surprisingly large number are unsure about the definition of Zionism. Foreign policy and military action: A majority of respondents oppose current U.S. military action against Iran and say the president should have sought congressional approval for strikes. Many prioritize preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons but favor clear objectives and oversight over unilateral escalation. 2026 Midterm Elections & Party Affiliations: American Jews are voting heavily Democratic in the midterm election for Congress. At the same time, Jews have questions about what the Democratic Party stands for, particularly on Israel. Jewish Republicans are most identified as pro-Israel, which is one of their biggest image advantages over Democrats. Pro‑Israel advocacy and spending: Opinions are split on outside groups spending in primaries—about a third support such spending, a third oppose it, and many are undecided. Respondents are nearly evenly divided on whether aggressive outside intervention helps or harms U.S.–Israel relations. Antisemitism and public debate: A large majority say some criticism of Israel slips into antisemitic tropes, and a significant share also believes some defenders wrongly label policy criticism as antisemitism. There is also concern about how antisemitism is becoming a part of the increasingly heated discussions over U.S.-Israel issues, by both sides. A large majority of U.S. Jews see too many critics of Israel using language about Jews that plays into antisemitism, whether intended or not. At the same time, a majority of Jews feel too many supporters of Israel use claims of antisemitism to avoid legitimate debate over policy. Domestic Issues are Important: Democrats are viewed positively on healthcare, abortion rights, fair elections, and middle class advocacy, while Republicans are viewed as pro-Israel but excessively conservative and unwilling to oppose the President. The sample of respondents: The current distribution of Jewish voters by party affiliation: 69% Democratic, 24% Republican, and 7% Independent. Poll respondents are mixed gender, highly educated, and religiously plural within Judaism (Reform and unaffiliated are the largest). About one‑third belong to a synagogue, but religious practice varies. Jewish women Voters: There are more female Democrats likely to hold reinforcing views, contributing to the party's electoral advantage, thereby fueling the midterm margin. The partisan divide is even larger among women. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Jewish women identify as Democrats, including 50% who are strong Democrats, and 24% who identify as Democratic Socialists. Likely Jewish women voters are supporting the Democrats in the generic vote: 78% Democratic, 19% Republican, and only 3% undecided. The Democratic vote margin increases significantly with age among Jewish women. Women ages 18-29 vote +46 Democratic, rising to +60 among those 40–59 and +58 among those 60 and older. These margins exceed those of the overall Jewish electorate, where voters ages 40–59 and 60+ both register a +48 Democratic advantage. The strength of Jewish identity also follows a consistent pattern. Among women who place lower importance on being Jewish, the Democratic advantage is +74, compared to +61 among the overall electorate. Among those who place higher importance on being Jewish, Jewish women still lean more Democratic than the overall electorate, at +41 versus +36. Jewish women are also more likely to disapprove of Trump’s job performance and the current U.S. military action against Iran. They are four points more likely than the overall electorate to disapprove of Trump’s job performance (77% vs. 73%) and the U.S. military action in Iran (59% vs. 55%). Jewish voters combine strong civic engagement and a clear Democratic preference with nuanced views that favor protecting Israel while insisting on democratic oversight, strategic clarity, and careful political tactics. Well-positioned issues that resonate for candidates and organizations in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections include emphasizing support for Israel alongside respect for congressional authority, clear policy goals, and sensitive messaging on antisemitism. "This poll reinforces a simple truth that the Jewish community is not monolithic, and the Jewish vote should not be taken for granted. Their concerns extend beyond Israel and Iran. It also indicates a critical need for education about Israel's history and the meaning of Zionism. These needs have never been more urgent than they are today," said Barbara Goldberg Goldman, JEI Chair. These analyses are based on the final release of the findings of a national survey of 800 Jewish registered voters, with an oversample to yield 600 Jewish women. The survey was conducted for JEI by The Mellman Group using a high-quality online national panel from March 13-23, 2026. The margin of error for the sample as a whole is +/- 3.5% at the 95% level of confidence (higher for subgroups).

JTA: Most American Jews oppose AIPAC spending in Democratic primaries, survey finds

April 14, 2026
The survey was released one week after another conducted by the Mellman Group and commissioned by the Jewish Electorate Institute found that a majority of American Jews have “not heard much” about the role that pro-Israel lobbying groups have played in this year’s early midterm primaries.  The poll, which surveyed 800 registered Jewish voters March 13-23, found that just 11% of American Jews had heard a “great deal” about “the role pro-Israel groups have played in the early 2026 primaries,” while 27% said they’d heard “some” about it. Meanwhile, 62% said they’d either heard “not much,” “none at all” or that they don’t know.