From Michigan to Maine, Democratic candidates are increasingly being forced to define themselves by their positions on Israel and the war in Gaza, as the issue begins to resemble the role abortion once played in Republican primaries: a litmus test for ideological identity.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion quickly became a defining litmus test in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Anti-abortion groups such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America warned they would not support candidates who argued abortion policy should be left solely to the states, instead demanding support for federal abortion restrictions. The episode cemented abortion as a key measure of conservative ideological credibility.

Now, as Democrats grapple with deepening divisions over Israel and the war in Gaza, many strategists argue the issue is taking on a similar role inside their party. Others contend the comparison goes too far, arguing Israel remains a defining issue only in certain Democratic primaries rather than across the party.

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