New York Jewish Voters Shift Toward Republicans Amid Rising Antisemitism
Data presented by CNN reveals a dramatic shift among Jewish voters in New York, with support for Democrats dropping significantly ahead of the 2026 elections.
New York State has long been considered a solid Democratic stronghold, but new data reveals a dramatic shift in voting patterns among the state's Jewish community, who are increasingly moving toward the Republican Party.
A Historic Shift in Voter Preferences
According to comprehensive polling data presented by CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten, New York has the largest population of Jewish voters of any state in the US. Enten highlighted a massive swing away from Democrats, driven largely by shifting stances on Israel and rising antisemitism. While former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo led among Jewish voters by 55 points in 2018, and Governor Kathy Hochul maintained a 51-point advantage in 2022, current polling for the 2026 gubernatorial race shows Hochul's lead plunging to just 13 points—a staggering 38-point drop.
"We are talking about a 38-point swing downward toward Republicans when it comes to Jewish voters. Developments over the last few years have had a massive impact," Enten noted.
Congressional Impact and Local Politics
A parallel collapse is evident in US House of Representatives ballots. In 2018, Democrats held a 40-point lead among New York's Jewish electorate, which expanded to 49 points in 2022. For 2026, that advantage has cratered to a mere 13 points, representing a 36-point shift away from the Democratic Party.
Analysts point to local leadership and foreign policy stances as key catalysts. New York City figures, including controversial political figures holding strong anti-Israel positions, face deep unpopularity among Jewish residents. Enten pointed out that unfavorable ratings among Jewish voters for such figures drastically trail their standing among the general public, directly altering voting intentions.
This realignment carries immediate consequences on the ground, particularly in New York's closely watched 17th Congressional District, where roughly 19 percent of residents are Jewish. Incumbent Republican Representative Mike Lawler is fighting to defend his seat in a district narrowly carried by Kamala Harris. Observers note that if Jewish voter trends hold, this dramatic political realignment could ultimately secure victory for Lawler and reshape the state's electoral map.
