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Weekly Roundup: JDCA endorses its first four candidates

June 1, 2018

Friends,

 

This week, JDCA launched a targeted campaign in the 2018 midterm elections with its first round of endorsements, offering its support to two Senate candidates and two House candidates representing Jewish Democratic values. Also this week, JDCA strongly condemned the remarks of U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, which politicized the historically bipartisan nature of U.S. support of Israel.  

 

Since his Senate confirmation last year on a narrow party-line vote, Ambassador Friedman has employed partisan rhetoric to no apparent end but being divisive and political. His comments are not just inappropriate, they are unprecedented —no sitting U.S. ambassador to Israel has ever engaged in such partisan behavior, let alone in an interview with a major newspaper.

 

As a rebuke to this disturbing development, just look at the four terrific candidates JDCA endorsed this week. All four are strong supporters of Israel, and all represent the progressive, socially liberal agenda we as Jewish Democrats value. Learn about them, support them, and see why JDCA believes Democratic support for Israel has never been stronger.

 

Jewish Democrats Endorse Four Candidates in Midterms

 

The Jewish Democratic Council of America is the voice for Jewish Democrats who represent socially liberal, pro-Israel views. On Thursday, the JDCA announced its first round of endorsements of candidates who embody those values for the 2018 midterm elections.

 

JDCA is endorsing Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) for re-election; Rep. Jackie Rosen in her campaign to represent Nevada in the Senate; and two challengers for the House: Sean Casten for Illinois’ 6th District, and Dean Phillips for Minnesota’s 3rd District.

 

All races in which JDCA has made endorsements are considered competitive, especially the Senate race in Florida. The Cook Political report has labeled Sen. Nelson’s campaign against Republican Governor Rick Scott a toss-up. With more than 600,000 Jewish Floridians, the Jewish vote could more than make the difference in November.

 

According to JDCA board chair Ron Klein, himself a former Florida Congressman, more JDCA endorsements are still to come: “In the coming months,” Klein said, “we will be announcing other endorsements as we do our part in the fight to take back the House and Senate, and to hold President Trump and Republicans in Congress accountable.”

 

JDCA Condemns Ambassador Friedman’s Divisive Statements   

 

Thursday, JDCA board chair Ron Klein released a statement condemning U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman’s comments in an interview with the Times of Israel, published yesterday morning:

 

“It is truly unprecedented for a sitting U.S. Ambassador to Israel to engage in explicitly partisan rhetoric and behavior,” Klein said.  “Ambassador Friedman must remember that he is not the head of the Republican National Committee or the Republican Jewish Coalition political organization. He is the U.S. Ambassador, as confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to represent all Americans in Israel – not just those of one party, or those who share his political views. Ambassador Friedman should spend more time cultivating the historically bipartisan nature of the U.S.-Israel partnership, as opposed to being politically divisive in his words and actions.”

 

JDCA Seeks Summer Interns

 

JDCA is looking for two to four interns to begin immediately working in its Washington, DC offices. Do you know a college-aged student or grad student who wants to have a rewarding, meaningful, and impactful summer internship experience furthering Jewish and Democratic values? Have them check out our full listing here.

 

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Shabbat Shalom!

Ron Klein
Chair, Jewish Democratic Council of America