Israel is a key issue in Democratic primaries as support for the U.S. ally drops

Israel's role in Democratic primaries has become increasingly contentious as polling data reveals a dramatic erosion of support for the U.S. ally across key Democratic demographics.

“From New Jersey to North Carolina to Tuesday's primaries in Illinois, Israel has risen as an issue in Democratic primaries”

KNKX

The issue has moved to the forefront of political discourse following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks, which have sparked mass protests worldwide.

KNKX

These attacks have coincided with a rise in antisemitic incidents including the Bondi Beach massacre in Australia and attacks on synagogues and Jewish institutions.

This complex geopolitical situation has transformed Israel from a traditionally bipartisan issue into a point of significant division within the Democratic Party.

Candidates are increasingly forced to address shifting voter attitudes on the campaign trail as the issue gains prominence.

The polling data reveals unprecedented shifts in American public opinion toward Israel, marking a dramatic reversal from previous years.

For the first time since Gallup began tracking sympathies 25 years ago, more Americans now say their sympathies lie more with Palestinians (41%) than Israelis (36%).

KNKX

This represents a stark contrast to the near two-thirds who favored Israelis in 2018 according to Gallup polling.

The NBC News poll shows a similar trend, with a 40%-39% split favoring Israelis, but Palestinian sympathizers have jumped from 13% to 39% since 2013.

These significant swings in public opinion have created a new political reality where Democratic candidates must navigate increasingly polarized voter attitudes on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Democratic voters have undergone the most dramatic transformation in their views on Israel, creating significant pressure on presidential candidates to address this shift.

“From New Jersey to North Carolina to Tuesday's primaries in Illinois, Israel has risen as an issue in Democratic primaries”

KNKX

In just over a decade, Democratic sympathies have completely reversed from heavily favoring Israelis to strongly supporting Palestinians.

The Gallup poll shows that in 2014, Democrats' sympathies with Israelis hit a high of 58%, but now only 17% side with Israelis compared to 65% with Palestinians.

NBC polling tells a similar story, with Democrats going from a 34%-18% pro-Israel advantage in 2013 to now having 67% sympathy for Palestinians versus just 17% for Israelis.

This rapid ideological shift has forced Democratic candidates to recalibrate their positions on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Young voters have experienced similarly dramatic changes in their attitudes toward Israel, further complicating Democratic primary politics.

According to Gallup data, younger Americans (18-34) have undergone a near complete reversal in their sympathies.

KNKX

In 2018, they sided with Israelis by a 59%-21% margin, but as of February 2026, it was an almost mirror flip with 53% favoring Palestinians versus 23% for Israelis.

NBC polling corroborates this trend, showing that voters aged 18-34 went from a 37% negative view of Israel in 2023 to 63% negative views.

This generational shift suggests that long-term Democratic Party policy on Israel may face continued pressure as younger cohorts replace older, more pro-Israel voters.

While Democratic and younger voters have shifted dramatically, other demographic groups have also shown declining support for Israel, though less severely.

“From New Jersey to North Carolina to Tuesday's primaries in Illinois, Israel has risen as an issue in Democratic primaries”

KNKX

Independent voters have moved from a high of 63% sympathy for Israelis in 2013 to just 30% now, with 41% now siding with Palestinians.

KNKX

The 35-54 age group has seen particularly sharp declines, with support for Israelis dropping from 45% to just 28% in Gallup's polling.

NBC data shows similar trends, with this age group's positive ratings of Israel dropping double-digits.

These broader shifts across independents and middle-aged voters suggest that the Democratic Party's realignment on Israel extends beyond its traditional base and could have significant implications for broader American foreign policy toward the region.

Despite these dramatic shifts, older voters and Republicans remain largely supportive of Israel, creating a stark partisan divide.

Those aged 55 and older are the only demographic to still maintain plurality support for Israel, though with a reduced 49%-31% margin down from 65%-24% in 2023.

Republicans continue to show strong support for Israel, with 70% in Gallup and 69% in NBC polls expressing sympathy for Israelis.

However, even Republican support has eroded slightly from a high of 87% in 2018.

This partisan divide means that while Israel may be a liability in Democratic primaries, it remains a political asset for Republicans, potentially exacerbating the growing chasm between the two parties on Middle East policy as the conflict continues.