Jewish Support for Democrats Exceeded Expectations in the Midterms
Jewish Support for Democrats Exceeded Expectations in the Midterms
Jewish Support for Democrats Grew in the Final Weeks of the Election and Included Support from Jewish Republicans and Independents
Washington, DC –Jewish voters overwhelmingly chose Democratic candidates in the 2018 midterm elections. Among Jewish voters, 82% of the two-party U.S. House vote went to Democrats and 18% went to Republicans. This 64-point margin of support for House Democrats is the largest among Jewish voters in a decade and one of the largest on record. This analysis of the Jewish vote was conducted by the Mellman Group on behalf of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA).
Facts about the 2018 Jewish Vote:
- Three weeks before Election Day, 74% of Jewish voters said they would support Democratic congressional candidates according to polling commissioned by the non-partisan Jewish Electorate Institute and conducted by the Mellman Group before the November elections.
- The margin of support among Jewish voters for Democrats grew in the final weeks of the election, and overlaps with the horrific massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue. According to an election-night survey commissioned by J Street and conducted by GBA Strategies, 72% of Jewish voters believed President Trump’s “comments and policies” are “very or at least somewhat” responsible for the shooting in Pittsburgh.
- According to exit polling, 79% of the Jewish vote went to Democrats. When adjusted to the two-party vote, 82% went to Democrats and 18% went to Republicans. This 64-point margin among Jewish voters was 57 points greater than the margin among the general electorate. This is the largest margin of support for Democrats among Jewish voters in a decade.
- Since the October poll indicated 68% of Jewish voters identify as Democrats, roughly 1 in 6 of the 82% who voted for Democratic candidates were Independents or Republicans.
“This election reaffirms what we have known for a long time: Jewish Americans continue to have a home in the Democratic Party. Jewish values are Democratic values – socially-progressive and pro-Israel. Not only did Republicans lose ground with Jewish voters in this election, but the Jewish vote in key districts was decisive in helping Democrats win back control of Congress,” said Jewish Democratic Council of America Executive Director Halie Soifer.
“This support did not just come from Jewish Democrats, but also from Jewish Republicans and Independents. President Trump’s incendiary rhetoric and policies had significant consequences on Republicans in the midterm elections, and cost them support in the Jewish community. JDCA looks forward to engaging with the 116th Congress to promote a culture of tolerance and an agenda aligned with our values.”