In New York, a recent poll shows former President Trump has gained a lead over Vice President Harris among Jewish voters. The Siena Research Institute survey, released on Tuesday, reveals Trump has the support of 50% of likely Jewish voters, while Harris has 49%.
This shift is notable given that in June, President Biden was leading Trump among Jewish voters, 52%-46%. However, Biden dropped out of the race last month and endorsed Harris, who quickly became the Democratic nominee.
Harris’ support for Israel has come under scrutiny, especially with her calls for an “immediate cease-fire” in March and warnings about consequences for Israel regarding a planned invasion of Rafah. She has also faced criticism for avoiding questions about Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s role in the conflict.
Additionally, Harris recently chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz over Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, the only Jewish candidate in the running, leading some to believe this decision was influenced by Shapiro’s lower popularity among Democrats.
Historically, Jewish voters have leaned toward Democrats. In past elections, they supported Biden over Trump 68% to 30% in 2020 and Clinton over Trump 71% to 26% in 2016.
Overall, Harris leads Trump among all likely New York voters, 53%-39%, which is an improvement from Biden’s previous lead.
The Siena College Research Institute poll, conducted from July 28 to August 1, surveyed 1,199 likely voters, including 8% who were Jewish. The margin of error is +/- 4.0 percentage points.