San Diego Jewish World: High Jewish turnout credited for Democratic victories
Jewish voters made a significant difference in support of Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections, especially in close races that flipped from red to blue.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) strategically targeted and mobilized Jewish voters in key districts and states where they impacted the outcome of the race in support of Democrats. JDCA invested in a significant national digital and print ad buys targeting more than half a million Jewish Democrats, and organized hundreds of election volunteers across the country for canvassing and phone banking. JDCA endorsed 58 U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and gubernatorial candidates, 47 of whom won their races (three races remain undecided).
Of the races decided, 85 percent of JDCA-endorsed candidates won their election, over half of whom flipped Republican seats to Democrats.
According to exit polling, 79 percent of Jewish voters backed Democratic candidates, which is a higher percentage than any other religious group. This number also exceeds predictions of Jewish support for Democrats in the midterms, when compared to a poll of Jewish voters released in early October. This indicates a shift among Jewish voters to Democrats in the final weeks before the election.
According to an election night poll, 72 percent of American Jews held President Trump and his supporters at least partly responsible for inspiring the largest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Trump’s message of hate and fear clearly backfired on Republicans in this election, and Jewish voters overwhelmingly rejected his divisive and xenophobic policies and rhetoric. While Jewish voters have historically supported Democrats, Trump has driven Jewish voters to support Democrats in record numbers because his policies are antithetical to Jewish and American values. — From Jewish Democratic Council of America