Longtime Jewish support for the Democratic Party is being tested by growing divisions over Israel and the party's progressive wing, Zoose Political Index founder Patrick Allocco told Newsmax on Sunday.
Allocco said on Newsmax's "Sunday Report" that recent tensions surrounding New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Democrat positions on Israel reflect a broader political shift.
"This is much more than just a New York City internal battle between Mamdani and the Jewish community," he said. "We're observing a historical moment unfold."
Allocco said Jewish Democrats have been a cornerstone of the party's coalition for decades, dating back to the New Deal era under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"This is a community that built one of the Democratic Party's most enduring coalitions over 80 years," he said. "Now you've got a character like Mamdani and the progressive left that is really making them rethink whether Jewish Democrats even have a place in today's party."
He added that Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel marked a turning point.
"The Hamas invasion became an inflection point, and it created a perfect storm within the Democratic Party for Jews," he said.
Citing polling, Allocco said Democrat attitudes toward Israel have shifted significantly.
"Prior to Oct. 7, Democrats had a 53% negative view of Israel. Today it's 80%," he said. "Think of that. Eight out of 10."
He argued that the changing political environment has fueled rising antisemitism and empowered progressive activists within the Democrat coalition.
"This gave permission for the DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] to bring that Trojan horse inside the big tent along with Islamic fundamentalists, what we're calling a coalition of convenience," Allocco said. "That's a real problem. Antisemitism is on the rise."
The host also asked whether Republicans face their own divisions over support for Israel.
Allocco said they do, noting he wrote the article in part because he wanted to understand why more Jewish voters have not moved to the Republican Party despite frustrations with Democrats.
"I couldn't understand why Jews weren't flocking to the Republican Party," he said. "A lot of that goes back to their longstanding loyalty to the Democratic Party."
He said Republicans also face internal disagreements over Israel and foreign policy.
"On the Republican side, we have our own split right now," Allocco said.
Pointing to Orthodox Jewish voting trends, he said support for President Donald Trump remained strong compared with Democrat candidates, though many voters remain politically independent.
"Back in 2016, 39% of them voted for President Trump," Allocco said. "This past election, 24% of Orthodox Jews voted for Trump. Only 12% voted for Kamala Harris."
Allocco said both major parties face challenges in maintaining support among Jewish voters.
"We see that the Jewish voters right now are split inside the Democratic Party," he said. "They are trying to rescue their own party. Right now, Republicans need to do the same."
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