Likud Primaries Close with 53.5% Voter Turnout as Amir Ohana Leads Polls

After 11 hours of voting at approximately 120 polling stations across Israel, the Likud party primaries closed on Monday evening, initiating the vote count to determine the party's list for the 26th Knesset. Official data showed a final turnout of 53.5%, with 75,177 members voting out of about 140,000 eligible, marking a roughly 5% decrease compared to the 2022 primaries. The Likud party noted this represented a 10% increase compared to the same voting hours in previous primaries.

Exit polls conducted by the DRI Institute among 700 voters indicated that Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana emerged as the leading candidate on the national list. Other surprises included MKs Moshe Saada and Boaz Bismuth entering the top ten, while MK Tali Gottlieb dropped to eighth place. The voting day was marked by high tension and anxiety among party officials, as the reduction in realistic mandates and numerous reserved spots promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that about half of the current MKs and ministers might lose their seats.

Concerns were raised by candidates relying on free voter support about the slow turnout potentially empowering internal deal-making mechanisms favoring established power groups. Notable voters included Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sarah, who voted at a dedicated station in Jerusalem’s Binyanei HaUma, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv, and Netanyahu’s son Avner.

Outside the Tel Aviv voting center at Heichal Shlomo, the "Yashar!" party led by Gadi Eisenkot staged a protest truck urging disappointed right-wing voters to leave Likud. Meanwhile, former Finance Minister and "Kulanu" leader Moshe Kahlon voted in Haifa, receiving a warm welcome. Reports indicated that Netanyahu’s circle privately offered Kahlon a high reserved spot on the list, which Kahlon did not immediately reject. Final results and the official list ranking are expected to be published overnight and by Tuesday morning.