A recent poll of Jewish voters reveals a significant divide within the community, with 74% of Orthodox Jews voting for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. This overwhelming

support for the Republican president-elect contrasts sharply with the broader Jewish electorate, which remains largely aligned with the Democratic Party.

The survey, conducted by the non-partisan Jewish Electorate Institute (JEI), highlights that Orthodox Jews were the only Jewish subgroup to support Trump by a majority. Non-Orthodox groups, including Reform, Conservative, and unaffiliated Jews, overwhelmingly favored Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, voting for her at rates of 84%, 75%, and 70%, respectively.

Support for Israel a Key Factor Among Some Voters

Trump’s perceived strong stance on Israel was a decisive factor for many Jewish voters, particularly those who prioritize U.S.-Israel relations. Nearly half (48%) of respondents in the JEI survey said they believed Trump would be a stronger supporter of Israel than Harris. However, this belief did not translate into significant gains for Trump among the overall Jewish population.

Modest Shifts in Jewish Voting Patterns

Despite Democratic candidate Kamala Harris winning 71% of the Jewish vote compared to Trump’s 26%, the JEI poll indicated a slight weakening in Democratic support within the Jewish community. Democrats saw their lowest performance with Jewish voters since 2012, experiencing a drop of 4 to 11 percentage points across various subgroups.

Exit polls conducted by Fox News painted a slightly different picture, suggesting Trump secured 32% of the Jewish vote, which, if accurate, would represent the strongest Republican showing among Jewish voters since George H. W. Bush’s 1988 election. However, this still reflects only a modest two-point increase from Trump’s 2020 performance.

Orthodox Jews a Growing Republican Constituency

Orthodox Jews stand out as a consistently Republican-aligned group within the Jewish electorate. The Orthodox Union’s Teach Coalition reported closer contests in battleground states, with Harris winning Jewish voters by only seven points in Pennsylvania and eight points in New York, indicating a more competitive landscape in some regions.

Broader Trends in U.S. Jewish Voting

Non-Orthodox Jewish voters remain one of the most reliable Democratic constituencies. By contrast, other demographic groups, such as Hispanic voters, showed greater shifts toward Trump, with an additional 25 percentage points compared to 2020, according to Edison Research exit polls.

Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, a pro-Israel and pro-democracy advocacy group, emphasized that Jewish voters broadly reject Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda. “Mainstream Jewish voters remain a steadfast pillar of Democratic support, despite cynical efforts to divide our community with fear-mongering over Israel and antisemitism,” he said.

Jewish Vote Remains Diverse

The “Jewish vote” has become increasingly contested, reflecting diverse political affiliations and priorities across the community. The JEI poll, conducted by the Mellman Group between October 30 and November 8, underscores that while Orthodox voters overwhelmingly supported Trump, the broader Jewish population continues to strongly back Democratic candidates. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.