According to initial exit polls from NBC News, Vice President Kamala Harris captured 79% of the nationwide Jewish vote, while 21% supported former President Donald Trump. This outcome fell short of the Republican Jewish Coalition’s (RJC) hopes, as the organization had invested a record-breaking $15 million in efforts to increase Jewish support for Trump. The RJC believed that dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s handling of Israel and antisemitism in the U.S. might drive Jewish voters to the Republican ticket, setting a goal for Trump to win over 30% of the Jewish vote.
In past elections, Trump received 30% of the Jewish vote in 2020 and 24% in 2016, according to data from the Jewish Virtual Library. Despite the slight increase in support over time, Trump has often voiced frustration with Jewish voters who continue to favor Democratic candidates. During a speech at an antisemitism awareness event in September, Trump criticized Jewish support for the Democrats, attributing it to a supposed “curse” by the party on Jewish voters. He lamented that Jewish support for Democrats “doesn’t make sense,” noting that he delivered billions of dollars in support to Israel and described himself as “the best friend Israel ever had.”
Trump has repeatedly argued that Jewish Americans should vote Republican based on his administration’s pro-Israel policies, which included relocating the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and facilitating the Abraham Accords, peace agreements between Israel and several Arab nations. He told supporters that Jewish voters “have no excuse” not to support him and even went so far as to say that “any Jewish person that votes for [the Democrats]…should have their head examined.”
Despite these remarks, regional polling showed varying support levels. A Fox News poll out of New York showed a closer split, with 56% of Jewish voters backing Harris and 43% supporting Trump. This narrower margin indicates some regional variability, though national trends still favor Democratic candidates among Jewish voters.
The breakdown of Jewish voting patterns in swing states has not yet been released, but RJC board member Ari Fleischer has expressed optimism that Trump might achieve close to 50% support among Jewish voters in key battleground states. This segment of the electorate could be influential in close races, potentially impacting outcomes in states where the Jewish vote holds considerable sway.
As election results continue to be analyzed, the RJC and other political observers will be assessing the effectiveness of outreach efforts and whether Jewish voting patterns shift significantly in response to both domestic and foreign policy stances.
Discussion about this post