Democrats Chair Yair Golan Withdraws Promised List Spot to Einav Tsangauker After Primaries

Einav Tsangauker revealed that Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, promised her a secured spot near the top of the party list back in February 2026. According to Tsangauker, Golan asked her to keep the agreement confidential and to lower her public profile ahead of the party primaries. She complied by not exploring other options or promoting herself during the primaries. However, after the primaries concluded, Golan informed her that he decided not to use the reserved spot for her.

Golan issued a personal apology to Tsangauker, expressing regret for disappointing her and taking full responsibility for the decision. He explained that he chose not to exercise his right to reserve spots on the list out of respect for the 113,000 Democratic Party members who voted in the primaries, and that this decision applied to other potential reserved candidates as well.

Despite the setback, Golan expressed his desire to continue collaborating with Tsangauker, offering her a significant role in the upcoming campaign and future party activities. Tsangauker, however, stated her intention to continue her public activism outside the Knesset, focusing on repairing Israeli society and advocating for the return of hostages and honoring fallen soldiers.

She emphasized her commitment to holding the current government accountable for what she described as failures and neglect, and pledged to work toward national unity and healing after the elections. The Democratic Party reiterated its pride in the democratically chosen list and its dedication to replacing the current government and rebuilding Israel.

This dispute highlights internal tensions within the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 elections, with Tsangauker emerging as a prominent activist despite losing the promised secured list position.