J Street poll shows shift in Jewish views

J Street, a liberal Jewish policy organization, released a national survey on Thursday that identifies a sharp generational divide regarding Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The poll, conducted by GBAO Strategies between October 28 and November 3, surveyed 800 Jewish voters across the United States to gauge their priorities for the 2026 midterm elections.

The most striking finding concerns the terminology used to describe the ongoing war. While 31% of all respondents supported rhetoric describing Israel's conduct in Gaza as a genocide, that figure jumped to 60% among Jewish voters under the age of 35. These younger voters also showed a higher likelihood of supporting the end to all military aid to Israel.

Democracy emerged as the top issue for the broader group, with 44% of respondents citing the future of the system as their primary concern. The cost of living followed at 34%, and antisemitism ranked third at 21%. Israel placed fifth, drawing concern from 14% of the sample. The partisan breakdown remained consistent with recent trends, as 72% of respondents expressed support for Democratic congressional candidates and disapproval of President Donald Trump.

The survey did not specifically poll Michigan, where Democratic senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has drawn attention for his stance on Israel. El-Sayed supports a total ban on weapons sales to the country. Jim Gerstein, founding partner of GBAO Strategies, noted that Republican efforts to capitalize on unease among Jewish voters regarding El-Sayed have had little effect. "It's really not relevant when you look at how unpopular the Republican Party is," Gerstein said, adding that the party is not making traction with the community due to its current perception.

Policy preferences on defense aid also split along conditional lines. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said aid to Israel should continue only with conditions attached, a position that aligns with J Street's standard policy. An additional 30% argued that aid should continue without conditions. On Election Day, President Trump announced an intention to end the $3.8 billion in defense assistance to Israel before the year concludes, citing the unpopularity of the aid.

Support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains strong, with 65% of respondents in favor. Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street's founder and president, told reporters that the results reflect the majority opinion in the American Jewish community. He noted that the election or re-election of at least 180 House candidates supported by the group demonstrates that these positions are politically viable.

Orthodox voters represented a distinct segment of the data, leaning more Republican and viewing President Trump more favorably than the general sample. The poll highlights a community that is politically engaged but deeply divided on how to support Israel in the current geopolitical climate.