Jewish vote remains historically aligned with Democrats despite shifting political landscapes

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Former President Donald Trump recently stated at the Israeli-American Council summit that Jewish voters who support Democrats or Vice President Kamala Harris should reconsider their political stance. Historically, however, the Jewish vote has consistently favored Democratic candidates. The last Republican to secure the majority of Jewish voters was Warren Harding, and since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, Democrats have largely maintained this voter base.

In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden received 68% of the Jewish vote, continuing a long-standing trend. The exceptions to this pattern occurred during Ronald Reagan’s victory over Jimmy Carter in 1980 and Barack Obama's second term, where he lost 9% of Jewish support following policies seen as unfavorable to Israel.

Trump's presidency saw policies that strengthened U.S.-Israel relations, including the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and the signing of historic agreements between Israel and several Arab nations.

The shifting dynamics within the Democratic Party have led to increasing concerns about its stance on Israel, with figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib expressing views critical of Israeli policies. Despite this, the Jewish vote remains largely aligned with Democrats, with issues of progressivism and Zionism continuing to influence Jewish political identity in the United States.