New Poll: Three-Quarters of Jewish Voters Support Biden’s Handling of Israel-Hamas War

WASHINGTON – A just-released poll from the non-partisan Jewish Electorate Institute (JEI) demonstrates that Jewish American voters overwhelmingly support President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Click here for the full polling results.

The poll of self-identified Jewish voters, conducted by GBAO strategies in early November, found that President Biden remains extraordinarily popular with Jewish voters and maintains a commanding lead over Donald Trump, the likely 2024 Republican nominee for president, 68%-22%. More than three-quarters of Jewish voters (77%) now have an unfavorable view of Donald Trump.

The poll also found that 74% of Jewish voters approve of President Biden’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas. A large majority of Jewish voters trust Biden more than Trump to handle the war between Israel and Hamas (60%-22%) and trust Democrats in Congress more than Republicans (40%-26%) on handling the war. Nearly half (43%) of all Jewish American voters responded that Biden’s handling of the war has made them feel more positive toward him.

Antisemitism is seen nearly unanimously among Jewish voters as a serious problem in the U.S. (96%). A majority of Jewish Americans trust Biden more than Trump to fight antisemitism (59%-20%) and Democrats more than Republicans (43%-24%).

The poll found massive support for Biden’s actions during the Israel-Hamas war, especially sending aircraft carriers to the region (85%), visiting Israel during wartime (84%), and attending Israel’s war cabinet meeting and offering counsel (80%), as well as strong support for calling for a humanitarian pause (68%) and vetoing the UN Security Council Resolution calling for a ceasefire (63%). There is 80% support for President Biden’s pledged additional military assistance to Israel, and 77% support an aid package for Israel and Ukraine.

Feelings of emotional attachment to Israel among Jewish voters increased from 72% in JEI’s June 2023 poll to 82% in November, and nearly all Jewish voters are following the news about the war. 91% of Jewish voters believe that someone can be critical of Israeli government policy and still be pro-Israel, and 76% believe that someone can be critical of how Israel is conducting the war and still be pro-Israel.

In response to the poll, JDCA Chair Hon. Ron Klein said the following:

“This poll confirms that Jewish Americans trust the Democratic Party more than the Republican Party to stand with Israel and against antisemitism. That is evident from the overwhelming support among Jewish voters for President Biden and the actions he’s taken in support of Israel since Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack on October 7. The poll clearly demonstrates that the Democratic Party remains – and will remain – the political home of Jewish voters in 2024.”

JDCA CEO Halie Soifer said:

“On October 7, the RNC Chair cynically said that Hamas’s horrific attack on Israel presented a ‘good opportunity’ for Republican candidates in 2024. This poll demonstrates that the GOP was dead wrong about exploiting Israel’s crisis and the startling rise of antisemitism for political purposes. Since October 7, Jewish voters have only solidified their support of President Biden and Democrats because a vast number trust the President and Democrats more than Trump and Republicans to support Israel and combat antisemitism.”

###

To speak with a JDCA spokesperson, please contact [email protected].