Most American Jews voted Democratic again. So why did 2026 feel different?

American Jewish voters have continued to cast their ballots predominantly for Democratic candidates in recent elections, according to early polling data from the November 3 midterm elections. Approximately two-thirds of Jewish voters backed Democratic candidates, with 67% of U.S. Jews voting Democrat and 32% opting for the Republican Party, as indicated by the NBC News exit poll.

These preliminary figures align with pre-election polls, which also suggested a similar split, with Jewish Electorate Institute surveying 71% intending to vote for Democrats and 23% for Republicans in September. Within the Jewish electorate, 97% of Democrats supported the Democratic candidate, while 35% of Jewish independents favored Democrats over the Republican candidate, though 43% remained undecided.

When examining the state of Michigan, exit polling showed a narrower majority, with 57% of Jewish early voters backing Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. The race garnered attention due to El-Sayed's alleged antisemitism and his contentious positions on Israel throughout the campaign. According to The Jewish Majority's exit poll, El-Sayed's performance among Jewish voters was notably lower than that of other Democrats, with 78% of Jewish early voters supporting gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson on the same ballot.

Among self-identified Jewish Democrats who did not vote for El-Sayed, 92% cited concerns about antisemitism and his Israel-related policies as reasons for their vote. Conversely, 61% of Jewish early voters who supported Republican Mike Rogers attributed their choice mainly to their opposition to El-Sayed, while 17% said they voted for Rogers due to their support for him.

The Jewish Majority Vote concluded that these results indicate a rejection of El-Sayed as the Democratic nominee, rather than a broader shift away from the Democratic Party. Jewish Democrats who opted for Republican Mike Rogers expressed their dissatisfaction, with 92% saying they would have voted for a different Democratic nominee had they had the chance.

Jonathan Schulman, Executive Director of The Jewish Majority, emphasized that Jewish voters wish to remain within the Democratic party but expect their concerns over antisemitism, Israel, and the treatment of the Jewish community to be addressed. This pattern of Jewish support for Democrats in midterms and presidential elections, ranging from 65% to 79%, aligns with past election trends and underscores the continued strength of this demographic's preference for Democratic candidates.