A special note from JDCA’s Outgoing Chair

As we begin a new year, my term as Founding Chair of JDCA has come to a close. I’m proud to have helped build this organization over the course of the past seven years into the powerful movement it is today, defending our interests and values.

Today, JDCA is the voice and political home of Jewish voters advocating for policies, and supporting Democrats who share our core values, and we have a strong record of growth and success. Through the efforts of all of you – as supporters, donors, leaders, and volunteers – JDCA engaged more voters in 2024 than ever before. We look forward to building on this historic success to ensure Democratic wins in 2025, 2026, and beyond.

When JDCA was established at the beginning of the first Trump term, there was no national voice and political home for Jewish Democrats. JDCA has filled that void, helping to flip the House and the Senate, and to elect President Biden. While we’ve had many electoral successes, we have not won them all. Today, our mission is more important than ever before, as we face a second Trump term and a narrow GOP majority in the Senate and House.

Our country has historically gone through cycles of power and political direction, but we have never had a President like Donald Trump who so regularly undermines our democracy and disregards the rule of law. Normalizing what has otherwise been considered disqualifying behavior and setting a lower bar for the values needed to serve as the highest elected official in the country, the incoming President has convinced many Americans that the “ends” justify the “means.” He threatens our Jewish values, including degrading our democracy and rights, aligning with dangerous right-wing extremists at home and abroad, and heavily politicizing support of Israel.

While all of this seems dire, we have been here before. The strength of the people of the United States for the last 248 years is our resiliency to fight for what’s right and to use our democracy to elect those who will defend our values. American Jews have historically led in the fight for civil rights, equal treatment under the law, democracy, and the right to give everyone an opportunity to succeed. We have done it before, and we will do it again, especially as Donald Trump prepares to take office and begin his second term. At this critical moment in American history, I’m proud that JDCA is at the forefront of the fight.

JDCA gives us the ability to make a difference with our elected officials and in elections. Despite some tough election losses in 2024, we’re already strategizing and preparing to win future elections. We recognize that the GOP majorities in both the House and Senate are small – in the case of the House, historically so. In many cases, Democrats will be the singular check against many dangerous and reckless policies offered by Trump and MAGA Republicans.

We also know that it is a near certainty that incoming President Trump and his allies will push the envelope in a way that will alienate a majority of Americans. These dynamics will give us great opportunities to win elections in 2025 and the majorities in both the House and Senate in 2026. However, it is up to JDCA, through your leadership and engagement, to evolve our approach to more effectively connect with our friends and neighbors. By listening and being responsive to the very real concerns of the American people, we will turn the table on this current political environment and win elections this coming year and into the future.

We have a very accomplished JDCA Board of Directors, with whom I’m proud to work to continue to build this organization. Each one of them has brought their leadership and experience – both in the American Jewish community and Democratic politics – to JDCA and provided foundational support, vision, direction, and inspiration for this organization. We are led by JDCA’s CEO Halie Soifer and a professional team who have been outstanding in helping grow this organization into an influential movement across this country. I want to thank our Board and staff for building JDCA into a preeminent powerhouse representing the Jewish community in U.S. politics.

We have chosen a new Chair, Susie Stern, who assumed the position on January 1. Susie is one of JDCA’s founding members and is uniquely experienced and eminently qualified based on her years of leadership in major national Jewish and political organizations. Susie will now lead JDCA in its essential role of influence and leadership within the Democratic Party and the Jewish community, and I know that you will join me in supporting Susie in her new role. I am confident she will lead JDCA in new and profound ways, helping shape public advocacy, policy, and the outcome of future elections.

As I end my term as Chair, I want to thank each and every one of you for your ideas, support, and engagement in JDCA’s critically important efforts to elect Democrats who share our Jewish community values and to ensure that the Democratic Party and Democratic policies remain closely aligned with our community’s interests. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you on “smart” public policy and winning elections.

I hope you’ll continue your engagement with JDCA and support our work as we begin this new year.

Wishing a happy and healthy 2025 to you and your families.

All the best,

Ron Klein
Chair Emeritus, Jewish Democratic Council of America