A former Democrat and Jewish voter explains why she doesn't feel President Biden and Democrats have her best interests at heart and why she feels the Republican party is the better option.
Jewish voters, once a reliable Democratic voting bloc, are increasingly feeling abandoned by the party, with many expressing disillusionment over the party's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict and the rise of antisemitism in the United States.
Melissa Chapman, a former Democrat who left the party after the October 7, 2021, Hamas attack on Israel, said she feels "completely abandoned" by the Democratic Party. "The Democratic Party that we knew from 2020 is no longer the Democratic Party now," she said. "It's more like a socialist party, and it's changing."
Jewish Voters Feeling Abandoned by Democrats Since Oct. 7
Chapman's disillusionment stems from the party's perceived silence on anti-Israel protests and its condemnation of Israel's response to Hamas attacks. Vice President Kamala Harris's recent comments voicing solidarity with anti-Israel protesters have further alienated Chapman and other Jewish voters.
"She [Harris] puts no blame on Hamas, zero blame on Hamas," Chapman said. "There are five living American hostages [in Gaza]... their names should be on the lips of every single person."
Jewish Voters Feeling Abandoned by Democrats Since Oct. 7
Other Jewish voters have also expressed their discontent with the Democratic Party's stance on Israel. In a recent poll by the American Jewish Committee, 63% of Jewish Americans said they believe the Democratic Party is not doing enough to combat antisemitism.
The Democratic Party's shift on Israel has also alienated some pro-Palestinian progressives, who have withdrawn their support for the party over its continued support for Israel. Protesters even attempted to disrupt this year's State of the Union, taking to the streets of Washington, D.C., with one holding a sign reading, "Biden's legacy is genocide."
Jewish Voters Feeling Abandoned by Democrats Since Oct. 7
As a result of the Democratic Party's perceived abandonment of Jewish voters and its stance on Israel, some Jewish voters have begun to rethink their support for the party. Chapman said she now believes the Republican party is the better option. "I feel Republicans are like old school liberal Democrats," she said. "So, for me, the Republicans are the only way to go at this point."
The shift in Jewish voters' support could have significant implications in future elections. Jewish Americans have historically voted overwhelmingly for Democrats, but if they continue to feel alienated by the party, they could be more likely to support Republican candidates in 2024 and beyond.
Jewish Voters Feeling Abandoned by Democrats Since Oct. 7
Experts say that Jewish voters could show a "significant change" in voting patterns and support Republican candidates in 2024 due to their disillusionment with the Democratic Party. The Israel-Hamas conflict, the party's perceived silence on antisemitism, and Harris's comments have all contributed to this shift.
As the 2024 election approaches, both Democrats and Republicans will need to address the concerns of Jewish voters if they want to secure their support. The Democratic Party, in particular, will need to convince Jewish voters that it is still the party that represents their interests.
Jewish Voters Feeling Abandoned by Democrats Since Oct. 7
