Jewish Voters Maintain Democratic Loyalty Despite Generational Rift on Israel
New poll data shows 72% of Jewish voters backed Democrats in the 2026 midterms, while younger cohorts increasingly question US military support for Israel.
By Takeshi Faure ·
Seventy-two percent of American Jewish voters supported Democratic congressional candidates in the 2026 midterm elections, according to a survey released Thursday. This figure matches the percentage recorded in the 2024 election, indicating stability in a key voting bloc despite shifting national sentiments. The data suggests that Democratic criticism of Israel did not trigger the predicted defection to the Republican Party among the broader Jewish electorate.
The polling results reveal a sharp division between age groups regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among respondents aged 18 to 34, 49% said they sympathize more with Palestinians, while only 20% sympathized with Israelis. This contrasts with the 50 to 64 age bracket, where 53% sympathized with Israelis and 9% with Palestinians. These generational differences reflect a wider trend in how different cohorts process issues related to antisemitism and the state of Israel.
Support for unconditional US backing of Israel remains limited across the community. Thirty percent of Jewish voters back unconditional support, whereas 39% favor conditional backing aligned with American interests. Another 31% want to pull military support and accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. This sentiment is most pronounced among young voters, where 60% agree that Israel has committed genocide and should see an end to US military support. Conversely, 49% of those aged 65 and older favor unconditional support.
The survey was conducted by GBAO Strategies between October 28 and November 3. It polled 800 self-identified Jewish voters with a margin of error of 3.5%. Jim Gerstein, founding president of GBAO Strategies, stated that American Jews remain a core Democratic constituency with consistent voting behavior. He noted that conventional wisdom often misses how Jews process issues like antisemitism and Israel in the American political context, describing their thinking as nuanced.
Public opinion of Israel has declined within the US, particularly among Democrats. Voters also expressed anger regarding the Iran war, which was launched jointly by the US and Israel in February. President Donald Trump held low favorability among Jewish Americans across all age groups, with 77% viewing him unfavorably. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also faced low approval ratings, with 72% of respondents holding an unfavorable view. Orthodox Jews were an exception, with 65% having a favorable opinion of Trump and forming the only Jewish group to vote majority Republican in the midterms.
Seventy-six percent of Jewish voters support sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank and the ministers who aid them. Additionally, 66% believe that Super PAC spending by the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC against critical candidates increases antisemitism in the US. While 48% said such ads would not change their vote, 39% said they would be less likely to support a candidate because of them. The cost of living and the future of democracy ranked as the top issues for voters, with Israel cited as a key issue by 14% of respondents.
