The Jewish Electorate Institute (JEI) today released the results of a survey conducted on behalf of JEI from March 3 through April 3 of 800 self-identified registered Jewish American voters by GBAO Strategies, a research-based strategic counsel for candidates running for office, non-profits, and other organizations seeking to better understand public opinion.
JEI Chair Martin Frost said that this poll demonstrates that Jewish Americans continue to support President Biden and the Democratic Party at levels higher than the general American voting population. Key findings include
- 72% approve of Biden’s handling of the war in Ukraine
- 70% think Trump has a great deal of influence over the Republican Party and 26% think he has some influence. A very striking percentage of Jewish voters think
- 68% think Trump is very responsible and 11% think he is somewhat responsible for the Jan 6 insurrection
- 60% think the Republican Party is very responsible and 17% think the Republican Party is somewhat responsible for the January 6 insurrection.
- 68% support the U.S. re-entering the Iran nuclear agreement.
JEI is an independent, non-partisan organization dedicated to deepening the public’s understanding of Jewish American participation in our democracy. JEI is the foremost resource on Jewish voter political preferences, producing the top research, polling, and analysis critical to understanding the Jewish electorate.
Click here for the survey results
Key Findings
- Despite a national political environment that is very difficult for Democrats, Jewish voters strongly support President Biden and Democratic candidates for Congress.
- Biden’s 63 percent job approval with Jewish voters is 21 points higher than it is with the general population.
- Democrats lead the generic Congressional ballot by 35 points among Jewish voters, compared to a 2-point Republican lead among the general U.S. population.
- American Jews are a base constituency for Democrats.
- In addition to their strong partisan identification with the Democratic Party, Jewish voters are driven by their intense opposition to the Republican Party and its leadership.
- The Republican Party (73 percent unfavorable) has abysmal standing with Jewish voters, and cannot make substantive gains with such high levels of negativity directed toward them.
- American Jews strongly oppose Donald Trump (77 percent unfavorable), believe that he has a tremendous level of influence over the Republican Party (96 percent a great deal or some influence), and hold him responsible for the January 6 attack on the Capitol (79 percent).
- The issues that most animate Jewish voters are climate change (29 percent cite as a top-two issue), voting rights (28 percent), and the economy (25 percent).
- COVID is a bottom-tier priority (5 percent).
- Jewish voters’ issue priorities and their positions on hot button cultural issues demonstrate that American Jews firmly reside on the Democratic side of the country’s bitter cultural divide.
- 75 percent are concerned that the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v Wade.
- 71 percent oppose the new FL, GA, and TX voting laws.
- By a margin of 68 to 27 percent, Jewish voters side with Democrats on a debate over whether teachers in public schools should be able to teach “the complete facts” about slavery and racism vs. “we should ban critical race theory in our schools.”
- A majority (68 percent) supports the United States re-entering the nuclear agreement with Iran.
Click here to download a PDF of the survey
Click here to download the topline results of the survey
Demographic Data
Ideology and Party Identification
Generic Congressional Vote
Thinking about the elections this November, if the general election for U.S. Congress were being held today, for whom would you vote?
Favorability
Trump’s Influence on the GOP
How much influence do you think Donald Trump has over the Republican Party?
Biden Job Approval (Overall)
Darker shade = Stronger intensity
Biden Job Approval (Ukraine)
Issues Priorities
Please indicate which two of these issues you want President Joe Biden and Congress to focus on.
Issues Priorities by Denomination
Issues Priorities by Age
FL, GA, and TX Voting Laws
As you may know, Republican legislatures in Florida, Georgia, and Texas have recently passed laws impacting access to voting and changing the way elections are conducted. Democrats say these laws target people of color and make it harder for them to vote. Republicans say these laws are necessary to stop election fraud and ensure election integrity. Do you support or oppose these new laws in Florida, Georgia, and Texas?
January 6 Responsibility
How responsible do you think Donald Trump is for the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol? How responsible do you think the Republican Party is for the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol?
Darker shade = Stronger intensity
Filibuster
Do you support or oppose eliminating the filibuster in the U.S. Senate?
Darker shade = Stronger intensity
Roe v. Wade
How concerned are you that the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal?
Darker shade = Stronger intensity
School Policies
Who do you think should set the policies for public schools on issues such as which books should be allowed in public schools, how to teach American history, and whether students should be required to wear masks in class?
Critical Race Theory
As you may know, there is a public debate over how public schools should teach American history. Below are statements from Democrats and Republicans regarding this debate. Which statement comes closer to your own point of view even if neither is exactly right?
Concern Over Antisemitism
How concerned are you about antisemitism in the US?
Darker shade = Stronger intensity
Antisemitism – Trust
Who do you trust more to fight antisemitism?
Cause of Inflation
As you may know, inflation has risen over the past several months. Below are some reasons that people may give for why inflation is rising. Among these reasons, which one do you think is the single biggest reason why inflation is rising?
Issue Priorities – Domestic Over Foreign Policy
Please indicate which two of these issues you want President Joe Biden and Congress to focus on.
Re-Entering the Iran Nuclear Agreement
As you may know, President Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear agreement that the United States made with Iran and five other countries. This agreement lifts economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for Iran dismantling its nuclear weapons program and allowing international inspectors to monitor Iran’s facilities. Some people think that we should re-enter the agreement, and some people think that we should not re-enter this agreement. Do you support or oppose the United States re-entering this agreement?
Darker shade = Stronger intensity
