This page is part of Momentâs Jewish Political Voices Project. To visit the project, please click here.
When Moment began recruiting participants for its second Jewish Political Voices Project (JPVP) in the summer of 2023, the election season felt predetermined. President Joe Bidenwas the inevitable choice for Democrats and former President Donald Trump was the GOP front-runner. Fast-forward 14 months: Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic nominee after Democratsâ concerns over Bidenâs age and his sinking poll numbers reached a breaking point with his poor debate performance in June. The following month, Trump survived a shocking assassination attempt. He turned in a shaky debate performance in September and continues to face a slew of criminal charges.
Meanwhile, the October 7 attack and ensuing Israel-Hamas war not only changed geopolitics but led to protests across the United States against Israel and Bidenâs actions in the region. Protests on college campuses were particularly heated and led to accusations of widespread antisemitism against Jewish students.
For our JPVP participants, the course of the 2024 election cycle has been more dramatic than any of them could have imagined. Not surprisingly, many of our participants did not end up in the same political postures as when they started. One Republican is now committed to voting for Harris in order to safeguard the rule of law, despite disagreeing with almost every one of her policies. Meanwhile, another Republican, who liked Biden because of the presidentâs long support for Israel, has switched to Trump because he doesnât trust Harrisâs stance on Israel. And a Democrat went from undecided to â99.9 percentâ for Trump because of his fears about the Jewish state and the current safety of Jews in America. As the election approaches, some of our participants are optimistic and others are downhearted. One woman interviewed commented, âItâs so exhausting. We canât be fighting for our lives every election.â And a young first time voter observed that she has never lived in a period that didnât feel politically fraught. One participant even compared this election cycle to a roller coaster. But will the ride stop on Election Day, or are we in for more twists and turns?
Meirav Solomon, North Carolina
“Iâve only lived through unprecedented times. I was five years old when Barack Obama was elected. I went through the Obama presidency, and then Trump and Biden. Iâm used to there always being something politically dramatic around the corner.”
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Chesky Blau, New York
“Itâs a different roller coaster now. A lot of things have changed since a year ago.”
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David Wolkinson, Florida
“I will vote for Donald Trump, because Iâm concerned about how the Democrats will govern on Israelâespecially with Joe Biden gone. Trump will be more supportive of Israel and wonât be pressuring them as much as Harris. Biden, in my opinion, has been uniquely pro-Israel, especially for a Democratic president in modern times. And I have no expectation that that would continue.”
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Jeff Michaels, New Jersey
“I am kind of mortified that these are the two best candidates that are out there. The way we wound up with Harris on the ticket isnât really fair. Nobody voted for her. It wasnât like the president died in office. So for her to be the candidate without a single primary does make me upset. ”
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Adam Witkov, Wisconsin
âI havenât made up my mind, but I wonât vote for Trump. Iâll always vote, though, so itâs either Harris or writing-in one of my best friends. I voted for Biden in 2020. We donât have to register by party in the state of Wisconsin. When we go to vote in a primary, we ask for either the Democratic or Republican ballot. And Iâve taken primary ballots from both parties in different elections.â
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Abby Schachter, Pennsylvania
âHarris was not strong on foreign policy as a presidential candidate, and she was not selected by President Biden to be his running mate based on her foreign policy credentials. Those were his areas of expertise. She has not done anything, as far as I can tell, to distinguish herself as a foreign policy expert.â
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Leah Kiser, Kentucky
âIf Trump wins, I will have to send at least two of my kidsâone is gay and one is transâ out of the country immediately, and then try to figure out how to follow myself.â
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Jaclyn Best, Colorado
âI definitely worry about a lot of talk and potentially not a lot of action, and I also know a majority of Congress keeps agreeing to send money and weapons over to Israel, even while condemning Israelâs actions.â
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Nina Stanley, Ohio
âTrump is the only president in the history of our country who didnât allow a peaceful transfer of power and didnât attend his successorâs inauguration. So how can you expect him to change?â
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Deb Kolodny, Massachusetts
“I felt that the administration had kept Harris in the shadows even more than most vice presidents. But sheâs come out of the gate with such vigor and brilliance, and her choice for VP is spectacular.”
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Don Cohen, Michigan
âMy hope is that Kamala will govern as a moderate and truly bring people together across the aisle to solve serious problems. My biggest fear is basically that the United States becomes rudderless and caters to division instead of governing. I fear continued paralysis and uncertainty of where weâre going and whoâs actually leading us.â
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Josh Mandelbaum, Iowa
âI continue to worry about the fundamental attacks on our institutions and how our democracy is run. I think the negativity and the chaos and the polarizing that comes with Trump extends beyond our politics. He plays to peopleâs worst instincts, whereas I think the contrast between him and the vice president has more to do with optimism and playing to peopleâs better side.â
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Deborah Pardes, California
“I wish that we had a third party that could combine the heart of the Democratic Party with the grit of the Republican Party when it comes to this issue of protecting a minority like the Jewish people.”
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Eva Cohen, Minnesota
âAs somebody who identifies as a progressive, I feel like Harris represents the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party. I think sheâs a very smart, very competent, and genuinely caring person, a true public servant. And I think she is someone who is committed to a vision of American prosperity and multiculturalism and the kind of positive, forward-looking, amazing things that resonate with people who share my values.â
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Diana Leygerman, Pennsylvania
âI donât think Trump cares about Israel or anything but himself. The Republican Partyâand, to be fair, some of the people on the leftâhave used Israel for politics and Jewish people as a dog whistle. Iâm not going to blame Jews who vote for Trump, because I understand why theyâre doing it. But in terms of his policies, I donât think Trump is a friend to Jewish people; heâs a friend to Netanyahu, and thatâs about it.â
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Aaron Weissman, Montana
âIâm not confident at all that we can survive unscathed. The transition of power is barely surviving at this point. The reality is the next three-to-six months are going to be a strong test of our commitment to our democratic principles.â
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