The top 10 Senate races Jewish voters should be eying
With the Middle East at the forefront of foreign-policy concerns, the pro-Israel community needs to take a good hard look at the issues that matter.
(October 19, 2018 / JNS) While not officially on the ballot in November, the upcoming midterm elections in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are widely seen as a referendum on U.S. President Donald Trump. Among the many issues that Trump has engaged in during his first two years in office has been the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Supporters of the president have praised him for taking bold steps in support of Israel, such as moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, ending involvement in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, cutting aid to UNRWA and the Palestinians, and standing up for Israel at the United Nations in the form of U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who recently announced her decision to leave the post at year’s end.
Yet detractors have argued that the pendulum has swung too much in Israel’s direction, which they say damages America’s credibility and puts prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace further away.
Considering that the Israel—and increasingly, the rest of the Middle East—has become an increasingly partisan issue, GOP control of the Senate could prove to be crucial for Trump to continue his policies in favor of Israel, at the same time as some in the Democratic Party have been leaning away from traditional support of the Jewish state.
Below are the top 10 Senate races to watch for the Jewish and pro-Israel community.
Note: Jewish population figures are from 2012, and according to the North American Jewish Data Bank by the Jewish Federations of North America.
ARIZONA
Jewish Population: 106,300 (1.6 percent of state population)
Summary: In a race to replace the retiring Jeff Flake, a Trump critic, Republican Rep. Martha McSally, leads Democratic Rep. Krysten Sinema by 0.3 percentage points in the RealClear Politics average.
McSally applauded the president’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, as well as to move the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv. She also supported the president’s decision to nix American participation in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Meanwhile, Sinema, an Iron Dome missile-defense supporter, was one of 25 Democrats to oppose the Iran deal. But she flipped and opposedTrump’s decision to withdraw the United States from it.
Additionally, Sinema advocated for radical causes such as a Department of Peace, “an effort championed on the federal level for many years by radical, anti-Israel politicians such as Dennis Kucinich, a former Ohio congressman known for outlandish proposals rejected by the plurality of federal lawmakers,” according to The Washington Free Beacon.
Sinema’s past anti-Israel activism consisted of railing against what she called the “Israeli occupation” as a member of numerous anti-Israel groups like the Arizona Alliance for Peace and Justice, which decried Israel’s “disproportionate” use of “violence and oppression.”
Funding: Sinema has received $5,400 from Jewish philanthropist, political activist and Democratic Party mega-donor George Soros and $19,250 from NORPAC.
Although McSally has yet to collect directly from Jewish philanthropist, political activist and Republican Party mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, she has reportedly been a recipient of funds from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund, of which Adelson has contributed $25 million. It has launched adssupporting McSally, including one where McSally—the first American female combat pilot—said “while we were in harm’s way in uniform, Kyrsten Sinema was protesting us in a pink tutu and denigrating our service.”
FLORIDA
Jewish Population: 638,985 (3.4 percent of state population)
Summary: Incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson is facing a tight general re-election battle against Gov. Rick Scott, who is trailing his opponent by just 2.4 percentage points in the RealClear Politics average.
As governor, Scott signed an anti-BDS bill into law in 2016, which prohibits the state from investing in or doing business with companies that boycott Israel.
Meanwhile, Nelson supported the Iran deal and slammed Trump for the U.S. withdrawal in May—a decision that Scott supported—and said “pulling out of this deal now is a tragic mistake. It will divide us from our European allies, and it will allow Iran to build a nuclear bomb within a year, instead of preventing it for at least seven to 12 years.”
However, Nelson was one of five Democrats running in states that Trump won in 2016 to vote for Iran hawk Mike Pompeo’s confirmation as Secretary of State. He also co-sponsored the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act, which Trump signed into law last week.
Funding: Although Scott shied away from answering in June whether his campaign has accepted contributions from Adelson, his campaign has received at least $2,700 from the casino magnate, in addition to $5,000 from the RJC.
Meanwhile, Nelson has received at least $5,400 from Soros and $19,564 from NORPAC.
INDIANA
Jewish Population: 17,470 (0.3 percent of state population)
Summary: Incumbent Democrat Joe Donnelly leads Republican businessman Mike Braun by only four points in the RealClear Politics average. Along with Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Donnelly inserted a provision into a defense bill last year that required increased U.S. oversight of the Arrow 3 antimissile system to Israel. The provision was removed.
Moreover, Donnelly supported the Iran deal, and said he was “concerned” about the U.S. withdrawal from it. Braun has criticizedDonnelly’s stance.
Funding: Donnelly has received at least $2,500 from Soros.
MISSOURI
Jewish Population: 59,175 (1 percent of state population)
Summary: Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley is up by just 0.5 percentage points over incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill in the RealClear Politics average.
McCaskill supported the Iran deal and opposedthe U.S. withdrawal from it. Hawley slammedMcCaskill and accused her of “standing with the mullahs,” according to an email blast from his campaign.
She has also withheld her support for the Combating BDS Act of 2017, which “contains problematic language that conflates Israel and the territories under its control,” according to J Street PAC, which endorsed her.
Meanwhile, Hawley applauded the president for relocating the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Funding: Hawley received $5,000 from the Republican Jewish Coalition. McCaskill has received at least $24,300 from Soros and $98,700 from NORPAC.
NEVADA
Jewish Population: 76,300 (2.8 percent of state population)
Summary: Dean Heller, the Republican incumbent, is facing a tough fight as the only Republican up for re-election in a state Hillary Clinton won in 2016. He is leading Rep. Jacky Rosen by 1.7 percentage points in the RealClear Politics average.
Since elected in 2016, Rosen has touted her record on Israel as having sponsored the Defend Israel Act and the Israel Anti-Boycott Act.
However, she criticized the U.S. leaving the Iran deal: “After the JCPOA was agreed to, it should have been robustly enforced—not used as a political football. … Unfortunately, backing out of this agreement means undermining our international alliances, jeopardizing our national security, and re-opening Iran’s path to developing a nuclear weapon.”
Heller, on the other hand, said the nuclear accord was “never good for America or our friends in the Middle East.”
“This agreement has done nothing to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon or promote peace; in fact, it has done just the opposite,” said Heller in a statement. “Iran has been emboldened since President Barack Obama signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action three years ago.”
“The agreement, which handed Tehran billions of dollars to help bolster its military and spread terror around the world, represented a volcano waiting to erupt,” he added.
Funding: Soros has given Rosen at least $5,400 this cycle, while Adelson has contributed an identical amount to Heller. Heller has also received$5,000 from RJC.
NEW JERSEY
Jewish Population: 504,450 (5.7 percent of state population)
Summary: What should be an easy re-election campaign for one of the most pro-Israel Democratic senators has been anything but, due to being tried on federal corruption charges (where there was a mistrial, and the DOJ declined to refile the charges). He leads Republican nominee Bob Hugin by just 7.2 percentage points in the RealClear Politics average.
Menendez was one of the most outspoken Democratic senators against the Iran deal, although he supported the embassy move, which was also applauded by Hugin.
However, in order to mollify the left amid the re-election cycle, Menendez opposed Trump’s decision to withdraw America from the deal.
Funding: Menendez has received more than $500,000 from NORPAC. Hugin has received $5,000 from the RJC, spokesperson Neil Strauss confirmed to JNS.
Quote: “This race is more competitive than it should be because of Menendez’s ethics problems and the amount of money Hugin has been willing to put into the race,” Cook Political Report senior editor Jennifer Duffy told JNS. “But Hugin is likely to fall short. The state is too Democratic.”
PENNSYLVANIA
Jewish Population: 294,925 (2.3 percent of state population)
Summary: Daylight has been created between incumbent Democrat Bob Casey and Republican congressman Lou Barletta, as the former leads the latter by 16 percentage points in the RealClear Politics average.
While Casey has backed the Iran deal and condemned U.S. withdrawal from it, he favored moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. He has also introduced legislation requiring the Department of Education to expand its definition of anti-Semitism to include support for the BDS movement and criticism of Israel that “demonizes,” “delegitimizes” or measures it through a “double standard.”
Despite controversial ties to white nationalism, Barletta has fully supported Trump’s pro-Israel agenda, even being one of dozens of members of Congress to call on the State Department to allow “Jerusalem, Israel” to appear on U.S. passports.
“It is indisputable that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel,” said Barletta. “I am proud to stand with President Trump in recognizing this truth and applaud his decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem earlier this year after decades of broken promises by other presidents. However, I am disappointed that the State Department has yet to follow through on its end and fully recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.”
Funding: NORPAC has contributed $51,640 to Casey, who has also received $10,800 from Soros. Barletta has gotten just $250 from RJC.
Quote: “Congressman Barletta has struggled to put together the same coalition that help deliver Pennsylvania for President Trump, in part because Lou Barletta isn’t Donald Trump,” Inside Elections editor and publisher Nathan Gonzales told JNS. “And Sen. Casey has a better connection to the state than Hillary Clinton. Pennsylvania is a good example of how President’s Trump’s coalition isn’t easily transferable to another candidate.”
TENNESSEE
Jewish Population: 19,575 (0.3 percent of state population)
Summary: In a race to replace the retiring Trump critic Bob Corker, who exerted influence on issues like Iran as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Rep. Marsha Blackburn has just a 6.5 percentage lead over former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen in the RealClear Politics average.
Blackburn strongly supported Trump’s decision to withdraw America from the Iran deal, while Bredesen has yet to issue any statement on the matter.
“Iran is a terrorist state. Their goal is to destroy Israel,” said Blackburn in a 13-second video. “Their goal is to undermine the United States. They cannot be trusted. I applaud the president on his actions.”
Funding: Bredesen has received at least $5,400 from Soros, while Blackburn has gotten that same amount from Adelson, plus $5,000 from the RJC.
TEXAS
Jewish Population: 139,505 (0.5 percent of state population).
Summary: Surprisingly, what should be smooth sailing for incumbent Republican Ted Cruz—one of the most outspoken pro-Israel members of Congress, opposing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and vouching for the now-enacted Taylor Force Act to eliminate most U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority—has been anything but, due to recent polling. Cruz is ahead by just 7 percentage points, according to the RealClear Politics average.
Additionally, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill last week co-sponsored by Cruz that would sanction members of terrorist groups like Hamas who use civilians as human shields.
In a recent debate, Sen. Cruz accused O’Rourke of siding with J Street, labeling the group “rabidly anti-Israel.”
J Street took it as “a badge of honor.”
“What we care about is that extremists like him—elected officials who undermined the Iran deal, demonize Palestinians to score political points and believe the only way to be ‘pro-Israel’ is to support every policy of the [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government—hold power in Washington right now,” stated J Street in a fundraising email.
Funding: As of 2017, Cruz has received at least $2,700—the maximum contribution that a donor can give at a time—from Adelson. He has also received $5,000 from the RJC. He received $64,050 from the nonpartisan pro-Israel organization NORPAC.
O’Rourke has received $2,700 from Soros, who has surprisingly also gave $2,500 to Cruz this election cycle.
More importantly, O’Rourke has received $139,734 from J Street’s political-action committee, which has also endorsed him.
Quote: “O’Rourke was one of only a handful of Democratic members of the House to oppose Iron Dome, and he has been a staunch supporter of the disastrous Iran Deal,” veteran Texas-based Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak told JNS.
[Although O’Rourke voted against Iran Dome funding initially, he supported it in later votes.]
“There may be no more anti-Israel Democrat running for Senate than Beto O’Rourke,” said Mackowiak.
“Contrast that with Senator Ted Cruz, who has been widely seen as the strongest pro-Israel leader in the Senate,” added Mackowiak.
WEST VIRGINIA
Jewish Population: 2,335 (0.1 percent of state population).
Summary: Despite a small Jewish population, the state features Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey against incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin, who has repeatedly been unafraid to break with his party, such as being against the Iran deal, though he announced his stance when there was already enough party support. He also supportedU.S. withdrawal from the agreement.
Additionally, he was one of only two Democrats to vote in favor of David Friedman’s confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
He leads Morrissey by 9.4 percentage points in the RealClear Politics average.
Funding: Morrisey has received $5,000 from the RJC. NORPAC has contributed $42,050 to Manchin, who has also gotten at least $2,500 from Soros.