Something remarkable happened on election night. Jewish voters, who have backed Democratic presidential candidates by overwhelming margins for decades, jumped ship in numbers we haven't seen since Michael Dukakis ran in 1988.
The numbers make it even clearer: Kamala Harris managed to hold onto just 66 percent of Jewish voters, while Donald Trump captured 32 percent. It's not just about the national picture – look at what happened in key states.
In Nevada, Trump gained a staggering 42 percent more Jewish votes than he did in 2020. Arizona saw a 16 percent swing his way. Even in Pennsylvania, where shifts tend to be smaller, he picked up another 4 percent.
But perhaps most telling is what happened in New York, home to America's largest Jewish community. A whopping 45 percent of New York's Jewish voters backed Trump – matching the historic numbers that Lee Zeldin pulled in during his 2022 gubernatorial run.
When we see a shift like this, it begs the question: Why?
The answer seems to lie in Harris's troubled relationship with the Jewish community, particularly after October 7. While Jewish voters were already split on the Biden-Harris administration's policies, Harris's actions in recent months appear to have been the final straw for many (and yes, we all heard her half-hearted lukewarm promises to protect the Jews and Israel. But as well know, actions speak louder than words. With Word Salad Queen, it was both her actions and her words that possibly cost her the election.)
She notably skipped Netanyahu's congressional address for a sorority event, publicly warned Israel about military operations in Rafah, and – in what many saw as particularly telling – repeatedly declined to meet with Jewish university students about the surge in campus antisemitism. As recent Harvard graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum pointed out, it wasn't for lack of trying on the students' part.
And here's something the polls might not fully capture: political analysts have long noted the "shy Trump voter" phenomenon among non-Orthodox Jews, who make up about 90 percent of American Jewry. Many simply don't feel comfortable telling pollsters they're voting Republican – meaning Trump's actual numbers could be even higher.
Why is this important?
Well, with Trump back in the White House and Republicans retaking the Senate, we're likely to see major changes in policy toward Israel, campus antisemitism, and Iran. The Antisemitism Awareness Act, which had been gathering dust under Democratic Senate leadership, might finally see the light of day.
It's a stunning reversal for Democrats, who have long counted on overwhelming Jewish support.
Tehran must be disappointed, too – their reported election meddling to help Harris didn't pay off.
Instead, American Jews sent a clear message: when it comes to antisemitism and Israel's security, actions speak louder than campaign promises.
The Jewish Chronicle contributed to this article.
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