Polls Show Dramatic Decline in Jewish Support for NYC Mayor
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
New polls reveal a significant decline in support for New York City Mayor among Jewish voters, with 64% holding negative views. Analysts attribute the shift to Mayor's stances on Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu, and to evolving party positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The data suggests a potentially significant impact on upcoming elections, particularly in races with a substantial Jewish electorate.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- 64% of New York Jewish voters have a negative view of Mayor, according to a September poll.
- Jewish voters show a 31-point difference in favorability towards the Mayor of New York City compared to the general electorate.
- Democratic support among New York Jewish voters has significantly declined since 2018.
- Analysts link the shift to Mayor's and the Democratic Party's stances on Israel.
- Republicans are actively courting Jewish voters amid these changing trends.
- A September poll showed Republican Bruce Blakeman leading Governor Kathy Hochul among Jewish voters.
New polling data presented on CNN reveals a significant alienation between New York City Mayor and Jewish voters in the state, indicating a dramatic erosion of traditional Democratic Party support among this demographic.
CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten noted that the Mayor of New York City has a net negative favorability rating of 23 points among Jewish voters, versus a net positive of eight points among the general electorate, a 31-point gap. Enten attributed this disparity to the Mayor of New York City's stances on Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he stated do not align with the views of many New York Jews. This trend is part of a broader political picture that could concern the Democratic Party ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Enten presented data showing a significant decline in Democratic support among Jewish voters over recent election cycles. In 2018, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo led Republican opponents by 55 points among Jewish voters, and in 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul maintained a 51-point lead. However, current polling averages suggest Hochul's lead among Jewish voters has shrunk to just 13 points, a 38-point decrease. Similarly, in House races, the Democratic advantage among Jewish voters dropped from 49 points in 2022 to 13 points for the 2026 elections, a 36-point shift favoring Republicans in four years.
Enten described this decline as a "plunge into the Hudson River" for Democrats among Jewish voters, calling the data historically strong for Republicans, despite Democrats still leading on average. A Siena poll from September 11-17 showed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman leading Hochul by three points among Jewish voters (46% to 43%), even as Hochul held a nine-point lead statewide. This highlights a growing divergence between Jewish voter trends and those of the general electorate in New York.
Enten emphasized the significance of these shifts in New York, which has the largest Jewish voting population in the U.S. He noted Republican efforts to appeal to Jewish voters while observing a recent shift in Democratic stances on Israel and Palestinians. While the Mayor of New York City's views on Israel and Netanyahu are seen as a factor influencing some Jewish voters, Enten cautioned that the data does not isolate his exact contribution to the overall erosion of Democratic support. Exit polls from the 2025 New York City mayoral election showed 63% of Jewish voters supporting independent candidate Andrew Cuomo over the Mayor of New York City, who won the general election. The data also highlighted the potential impact of Jewish voting patterns in closely contested races, such as the 17th Congressional District, where Republican Congressman Mike Lawler faces a tight re-election bid.