Binyamin Rose
Forward, Nov. 1, 2024
“While Jewish voters at large do not prioritize Israel as an issue, the Nishma survey revealed that the candidates’ stances on Israel meaningfully influence their success with Orthodox voters.”
National polls show Donald Trump and Kamala Harris running neck and neck down to the wire of a divisive and polarizing campaign. But in certain Orthodox Jewish circles, the race has never been competitive.
A September Nishma Research poll found that Trump was outpolling Harris among Haredi with a staggering 93% of the likely vote. Harris led Trump 55%-45% among Modern Orthodox Jews. The Jewish Democratic Council of America doesn’t differentiate between Haredi and Modern Orthodox, but their October poll showed Trump beating Harris 68% to 31% among Orthodox voters.
We don’t have reliable exit polls on the Orthodox Jewish vote in 2016 and 2020. But based on how I read the pulse in a community that I have covered and reported to for more than twenty years, Orthodox and particularly Haredi Jews are among Trump’s most loyal supporters — for valid reasons.
Trump delivered what he promised as president on priorities important to many Haredim, especially for Israel. He formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocated the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He showed courage in the face of warnings that his move would spark violence and mass anti-American demonstrations in the Muslim world — which it didn’t. … [To read the full article, click here]