Jewish Voters Stay With Democrats in Midterms Despite Generational Split on Israel

American Jews continued to support Democratic candidates overwhelmingly in the 2026 midterm elections, according to a survey commissioned by the advocacy group J Street. The results contradict earlier predictions that Democratic criticism of Israel would cause a significant number of Jewish voters to switch to the Republican Party. The poll, published on Thursday, highlights a deepening generational divide within the US Jewish community regarding the state of Israel.

The data shows that 72% of Jewish voters backed Democratic congressional candidates, a figure identical to the 2024 election. Meanwhile, 26% voted for Republican candidates, up from 24% two years prior, a difference that falls within the survey's margin of error. These findings were released following a Democratic sweep of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, where voters shifted toward the party by a significant margin. The election also saw the victory of new lawmakers who have accused Israel of genocide and, in some instances, spoken against Jewish statehood.

The political landscape was shaped by a sharp decline in public opinion of Israel 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. Overall, 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. However, Orthodox Jews made up an exception, with 65% having a favorable opinion of Trump and being the only Jewish group to vote majority Republican in the midterms.

The survey, conducted by GBAO Strategies between October 28 and November 3, polled 800 self-identified Jewish voters with a margin of error of 3.5%. Jim Gerstein, the founding president of GBAO Strategies, noted that American Jews remain a core Democratic constituency with consistent voting behavior. He argued that conventional wisdom often misses how Jews process issues like antisemitism and Israel in the American political context, describing their thinking as nuanced.

A stark generational gap emerged in the findings regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Overall, 39% of American Jews said they sympathize more with Israelis, 38% with both sides, and 23% with Palestinians. Among younger respondents aged 18 to 34, 49% sympathized more with Palestinians, compared to just 20% with Israelis. In contrast, the 50 to 64 age group showed nearly reversed statistics, with 53% sympathizing with Israelis and only 9% with Palestinians.

Most American Jews disagree with unconditional support for Israel. Thirty percent back unconditional support, while 39% support conditional backing aligned with US interests and values. Another 31% want to pull military support and accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. This sentiment is strongest among young voters, where 60% agree that Israel has committed genocide and should see an end to US military support. Conversely, members of the 65 and older age group were the most in favor of unconditional support, with 49% choosing that option.

The poll also explored the impact of political spending and public policy. 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, compared to 13% who would be more likely.

When asked about the most important issues in the 2026 midterms, 44% of respondents cited the future of democracy as their top concern. The cost of living was the second most popular issue at 34%, followed by antisemitism at 21%. Israel was cited as a key issue by 14% of voters, ranking fifth in the list of concerns.