E Jewish Philanthropy: Taking the Temperature of Jewish Voters: A Political Snapshot

May 29, 2019

By Steven Windmueller

As America awaits next year’s Presidential election, various studies are already seeking to capture the political pulse of this nation. Just last week, a new poll focusing on Jewish voters was released. While this survey provided a broad range of data concerning Jewish political behavior, the following findings are introduced here:

  • 70% disapproved of the President’s overall job performance
  • 71% were dissatisfied with the way the President has handled anti-Semitism
  • 73% believe Jews are less secure than they were two years ago
  • The Jewish community continues to identify as strongly pro-Israel, but Israel ranks at the bottom of a list of 16 policy priorities of Jewish voters

Over the last several months, Jewish Democrats, Republicans and Independents also had the opportunity to participate in a series of focus groups. [1] The issues collectively raised by these 30 participants are reflected in the comments introduced below. Some of the commentary extracted from these conversations reflects on the themes also present in the Jewish Electorate Institute’s report. While these particular statements are designed to demonstrate the issues that are of importance to these specific Jewish voters, they must also be seen as a snapshot taken at a particular moment in time:

  1. One participant, who defined himself as an “ Independent ,” commenting on Bernie Sanders, suggested that the Senator may have worn out his welcome. “I find his views on Israel to be problematic and his socialist agenda, some of which is being adopted by a number of his Democratic colleagues, is driving the Democratic Party too far to the left, for my taste.”
  2. “ I can’t believe what I am seeing. I am mystified that my Republican friends seem to lack a moral compass by supporting their President. The defense of the President to me as a Jew and as an American is damaging our country and this  democracy ,” suggested by a Democratic Jewish voter.
  3. A contrary view was offered by the following Trump supporter: “ I don’t get are my Jewish friends, who still can’t accept the election results from 2016? Why are the Democrats so hell bent on bringing down this  President? He has been great for Israel and for America.”
  4. One independent vote offered the following commentary: “ I really don’t care for the President but can anyone realistically defeat him in 2020? ”
  5. A Democrat raised the following concern: “ Is it really good that there are so many Democrats running for the Presidency? Will they ‘kill each other off’ leaving the stage in 2020 to Trump? ”
  6. A Jewish Independent voter expressed his frustration: “ I am feeling conflicted. I like his (Trump) actions on behalf of Israel. However, there is little else that really resonates with me about this President , so do I support him only because he’s good for Israel? ”
  7. “ I am very concerned about the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic statements coming from some Democrats. Why hasn’t the Democratic leadership in the Congress been more forthcoming in denouncing these messages? ” A Jewish Republican voter offered these sentiments.
  8. A Democrat observed: “ I worry about the loss of civility in this country. I can’t have a reasonable conversation about US politics or Israel, without someone walking out of the room or employing a series of expletives when talking about their opponents.”
  9. A Republican who indicated that he was not a supporter of the President stated: “ Am not sure what I am going to do now or in the future in connection with my vote.  The far right white nationalists scare me on the Republican side , while the anti-Israel voices within the Democratic Party are correspondingly upsetting to me.”  A broad number of individuals confirmed that the rise in anti-Semitism was particularly worrisome.
  10. A Democrat observed the following: “ If this comes down to the economy, the Republicans are likely to win.”
  11. “ Any one but Trump, please! ” A Jewish Democrat offered this one sentence commentary.
  12. A first time eligible voter in 2020 noted that she was excited to vote, adding “ I am committed to elect individual s who reflect my generation’s concerns, including the environment, quality job creation, infrastructure, and an equitable immigration policy.”

How Recent Events Impact Voters?

The recent incidents of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel rhetoric will no doubt impact voter concerns. Some focus group participants indicated a new level of uncertainty about the best way for Jews to be able to express their political concerns, as threats appeared from both the political right and far left. As one participant noted: “S o, where do we go, when you see hate emerge from both ends of the political spectrum? ”Another voter articulated the case that the current environment confirmed for him a commitment to oppose extremism in all of its forms, whether emerging from his own political party or the other side. “ Our job must be to call out those who are our enemies.” Yet, many of those interviewed shared similar concerns related to anti-Semitism as reflected in the Jewish voter survey introduced above.

What Issues Define their Politics?

When asked about the issues that informed their political choices, two groups of answers emerged. One cadre of voters indicated that the welfare and security of the State of Israel was an abiding concern.

A second group of voters, somewhat larger in number, identified a whole litany of priorities, primarily domestic in nature. These included  health care and medical costs; immigration issues; the composition of the Supreme Court; and economic justice  (here respondents expressed concerns both about the top 1% and the economic hardships facing the very poor and undereducated in this society). Most focus group members (over 80%)indicated their concerns about the rise of hate within the society, referencing anti-Semitism as well as other manifestations of prejudice.

There appears to be a class of voters who are specifically committed to environmental issues. These were generally younger voters who had grown up with a particular concernaround the impact of climate change.

Where Does Israel Fit into their Political Priorities?

The mix of reactions to the Israeli elections was likewise instructive. A third of the focus group participants (10 individuals) did not appear to have followed the results of the April elections. Collectively 15 participants seemed uncertain what the outcome might mean for Israel or its relationships with world Jewry and its major international partners. Five focus group members seemed very engaged with the details and implications. Three of these participants were extremely concerned, possibly even critical of the Prime Minister in connection with some of his policies, including the proposal to annex the West Bank Jewish Settlements. Two seemed to believe that this option was extremely important to Jewish security and to the future of the Jewish State. All of the respondents however were uncertain what this policy position would mean in connection with achieving some type of final resolution to the Israel-Arab conflict. Only one individual weighed in on endorsing a one-state option as a viable alternative political option.

Respondents were generally aware of the American administration’s plan to release a peace plan but few believed that it created any new formula for a lasting peace with the Palestinians. Others were concerned about recent American government statements concerning a possible military build up against Iran, expressing reservations about creating new tensions and potential threats impacting Israel.

Implications for 2020 :

Certainly, no single poll or small focus group sample  can reflect the political disposition of a larger class of voters. At best, such data may reflect some generic trends as well as identify core issues of interest to a specific sector of the voting public. Almost all of thefocus group respondents felt that the 2020 election would be highly contentious, further dividing the nation. Many of these participants expressed a concern that the election campaign would accelerate an already intense environment of hate and possibly create additional acts of violence directed against minority groups, including American Jews.

[1] Series of focus groups conducted during the period of late March through the middle of May (2018) with some 30 individuals, representing a cross-section of American Jews (by age, gender and political affiliation).

JEI Denounces Deeply Concerning Comments by VA House Education Chair

August 8, 2025
August 8,2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Steve Rabinowitz Email: steve@bluelightstrategies.com Phone:202-265-3000 JEI Denounces Deeply Concerning Comments by VA House Education Chair Washington, DC — The Jewish Electorate Institute denounces the deeply concerning statements by Virginia Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), who also serves as the appointed Chair of the Education Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates, and who labeled Zionism “evil” and a “supremacist ideology.” Zionism represents the Jewish people’s fundamental right to self-determination in our ancestral homeland—framed within the context of democratic legitimacy and moral clarity. This mischaracterization undermines Jewish identity and distorts a core democratic value. As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to understanding and empowering the American Jewish electorate through research, polling, and civic engagement, we urge Virginia’s leadership to reaffirm standards of responsible public service and to reject rhetoric that fuels division. Political discussion should challenge policies, not legitimate identity or core values. ###  ABOUT THE JEWISH ELECTORATE INSTITUTE (JEI) JEI is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization that surveys, interprets, reports, and educates policymakers and the public about the perspectives, voting behaviors, and motivations of the American Jewish electorate. JEI undertakes all its work and reports its findings without bias or favor concerning any political group or particular ideology. Through its polling, studies, seminars, focus groups, and educational programming, JEI is the leading non-partisan voice explaining the positions and voting behaviors of the American Jewish electorate.

Antisemitism is a warning sign. Are we listening?

By Eileen Filler-Corn • July 3, 2025
In the nearly two years since Hamas’s brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israel, American Jews have watched a disturbing rise in antisemitism take place across America — and crucially, among some of our longtime allies. For decades, Jewish Americans stood at the forefront of progressive causes, marching for civil rights, fighting for reproductive freedom and advocating for immigrants and the marginalized. My Jewish faith is what first drove me to public service. The Jewish concept of tikkun olam — our responsibility to repair the world — is not just a religious tenet but a moral call to action. It’s why we’ve always shown up to defend others. Yet now, as antisemitism surges to record levels, many progressive organizations and leaders who once stood with us have gone quiet; or worse, turned their backs entirely. It’s no longer just about Israeli policy. The line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism has been crossed so many times it’s barely a line at all. “Zionist” has become a stand-in for “Jew,” and the message is clear: Unless you disavow the world’s only Jewish state, your place in many progressive spaces is no longer welcome. The picture is sobering. There have been calls to ban “Zionists” from Pride events. Many women’s groups have shrugged at Hamas’ rape of Israeli women. And the Democratic nominee for mayor of America’s most populous city has a pattern of antisemitic rhetoric and has refused to condemn the hurtful call to “globalize the intifada,” a rallying cry that has been used to incite violence against Jews. This didn’t happen overnight, but the silence from many who claim to fight for justice has been deafening and deeply painful. I know what it feels like to be targeted for who you are. In January 2020, shortly after I became the first woman and the first Jewish Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, the FBI uncovered a plot to assassinate me. Two members of a neo-Nazi domestic terrorist group had targeted me. It was the most serious of many threats I received during my time as Speaker. Thankfully, law enforcement intervened in time. But the threat was real, and it reminded me that hatred knows no single party or ideology. We’ve long seen this kind of extremist hate on the right, but today that same danger is rising on both extremes of the ideological spectrum. Antisemitism spreads under different names but with the same devastating consequences. Now, with the recent war between Israel and Iran, we’re likely to see a fresh wave of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. It is already giving rise to a new round of dangerous conspiracy theories laced with antisemitic tropes: accusing American Jews of dual loyalty; suggesting we control foreign policy; and portraying Jewish political engagement as part of a shadowy cabal influencing Washington. This is a moment of moral testing. Will our leaders speak clearly and forcefully against antisemitism, even when it’s politically inconvenient? Will those who champion diversity and inclusion apply those values to Jews as well? And will we be honest about how bad actors have exploited division, stoked extremism and enabled those who traffic in hate? Just as many Americans oppose President Donald Trump’s leadership while still loving this country and believing in its promise, the same is true for Israel. You can criticize or reject Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government and still support Israel’s right to exist, to defend itself and to thrive as a Jewish and democratic state. That distinction matters. Criticizing a government is not the same as condemning a people; but when it comes to Israel, that line is too often deliberately blurred. We must be able to hold leaders accountable without fueling hatred or questioning a nation’s fundamental legitimacy. Antisemitism is not merely a problem faced by Jews — it is a bellwether for the health of our democracy. When a society tolerates hatred against one group, it gives license to hate others. When threats against public servants go unchallenged, violence becomes normalized. I was reminded of that tragic reality when my friend and former counterpart, former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, was executed in her home along with her husband, Mark. Authorities say her killer was a politically motivated extremist who had compiled a list of Democratic lawmakers. Melissa was a principled leader and a friend. Her death was a heartbreaking loss and a flashing red warning sign for the tolerance of hate in our democracy. We cannot afford to treat this moment as normal. It is time for our allies to rejoin us. To speak up when we are threatened. To see antisemitism for what it is: a growing, dangerous force that must be confronted head-on. Because if we wait until it affects everyone, it will already be too late. Eileen Filler Corn is a JEI Board Member and Former Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, and the only ever Jewish speaker in VA
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Letter to House Judiciary Committee on Anti-Semitism

July 1, 2025
July 1, 2025 U.S. House Committee On The Judiciary 2142 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Now in our ninth year, the nationally and internationally recognized Jewish Electorate Institute (JEI), an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization, continues to serve as the barometer for the Jewish electorate. We are therefore honored to submit the following Comments for the Record to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee in support of its June 24, 2025, hearing on antisemitism - Rising Threat: America’s Battle Against Antisemitic Terror. This hearing, punctuated by the moving testimony of Matt Nosanchuk, reminded us that Jewish safety in America is not a political football - it is a national imperative. Nosanchuk, a former senior official in both the Obama and Biden Administrations and a lifelong advocate against antisemitism, laid bare the stark realities we face. The murder of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were attending a Jewish community event just blocks from his home, brought the crisis home - literally and painfully. It also underscored a chilling truth: this could have been any one of us. Antisemitism today does not discriminate based on geography, profession, or even political identity. Nosanchuk rightly challenged both ends of the political spectrum. From the right, we've seen rising indulgence of white nationalist rhetoric, normalization of Nazi imagery, and an embrace of conspiracy theorists. When antisemitism is tolerated—or worse, weaponized—by public officials and influential institutions, it emboldens violence and undermines the rule of law. The example of the pardoning of the person wearing a “Camp Auschwitz” shirt at the riot on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was not just shocking to the Jewish community – it was symptomatic of a deeper, corrosive tolerance for hate. From the left, antisemitism also too often masquerades as political critique. When Jews are asked to renounce their ties to Israel to participate in coalitions, or when pro-Palestinian activism turns violent against Jews, with intimidating targeted rhetoric and violence, that’s not solidarity – it’s exclusion and scapegoating. Our Jewish identity should never be a precondition for political participation. What we need is not partisan grandstanding, but comprehensive action. That includes implementing the Biden Administration’s well-thought-out National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, restoring funding for civil rights enforcement at the Justice Department, and condemning hate, regardless of its ideological source. Nosanchuk’s call for education, prevention, and cross-community solidarity is exactly right. In closing, it’s our view at JEI that using antisemitism as cover for draconian immigration or university policies erodes the democratic institutions that have allowed Jewish life to flourish. Fighting hate must not become an excuse to violate civil liberties - ours or anyone else’s. Our safety as Jews has always been linked to the safety of others. In this perilous moment, we must demand more than soundbites. We must demand seriousness, solidarity, and above all, solutions. We are grateful to the Committee for having held this vital hearing at a perilous moment for American Jews. Sincerely, Barbara Goldberg Goldman Chairperson The Jewish Electorate Institute