Anti-Israel candidates win seats as Jewish voter support for Democrats declines in midterms
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The 2025 midterm elections saw a surge of candidates critical of Israel winning congressional seats, while a Siena College poll showed Jewish support for Democratic control of Congress falling to 61% in New York.
Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, winning a race that highlighted growing tensions between the Democratic Party and many Jewish voters. A Siena College poll indicated that support for Democrats among New York Jewish voters dropped from 76% in 2018 to 61%, while backing for Republicans rose to 30%.
Progressive candidates with varying views on Israel secured at least 36 new seats in the House and Senate, including five members of the Democratic Socialists of America. In Georgia, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff won re-election despite criticism from some Jewish groups over his vote to block certain arms sales to Israel. Republican challenger Mike Collins, who presented himself as a strong Israel supporter, faced scrutiny after family members circulated antisemitic conspiracy theories.
In Maine, Republican Sen. Susan Collins retained her seat against Democrat Troy Jackson, who has called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. In Michigan, Democratic socialist Donavan McKinney won a House seat in Detroit, campaigning for an end to weapons shipments to Israel.
New York’s 17th Congressional District saw Democrat Cait Conley defeat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, both of whom oppose conditioning U.S. aid to Israel. Lawler had received a public endorsement from President Donald Trump on Election Day.
Three candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani—Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez—were elected to the House, each advocating for an end to U.S. military assistance to Israel. Aber Kawas also won a New York State Senate seat, becoming the first Palestinian-American and first Muslim woman in that body.
Socialist Chris Rabb won a House seat in Pennsylvania and pledged a full arms embargo on Israel after distancing himself from a controversial social-media post. In New Jersey, Dr. Adam Hamawy, a former military surgeon, secured a congressional seat and called for ending U.S. funding for Israel’s Iron Dome system.
In Colorado, Melat Kiros defeated long-time Rep. Diana DeGette in a Democratic primary, advocating for a one-state solution and an end to all weapons shipments to Israel. Janeese Lewis George was elected mayor of Washington, D.C., and said she would avoid official ties with Israel.
Republican Sen. Ashley Moody retained her Florida seat against Democrat Angie Nixon, who accused Israel of genocide and opposed any U.S. aid. In Ohio, former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown defeated Republican Jon Husted; both candidates supported Israel, but were backed by rival Jewish advocacy groups.
Local referendums in several Illinois municipalities approved measures opposing legislation that restricts public pension investments in companies that boycott Israel, while a Providence, Rhode Island ballot measure aimed at limiting municipal investments linked to human-rights violations passed with strong support.
Overall, the midterms reflected a notable shift: a growing number of elected officials are openly critical of U.S. policy toward Israel, and Jewish voter alignment with the Democratic Party appears to be weakening.