Why do almost all Jewish people vote Democrat?

[Cyrusman]

Can someone explain to me why the majority of Jewish people vote democratic? I honestly do not know the history and reasoning behind it, but I know based on the numbers almost all registered Jewish voters vote Democrat. Thanks!

[Tekken_Guy]

In the past: They were union-friendly, identified as a persecuted minority who Dems supported in the Civil Rights movement, gratitude to FDR and Truman for defeating the Nazis.

Later: Their secular beliefs conflicted with the GOP’s religious turn, and as well educated cosmopolitan urbanites and suburbanites, Trump’s GOP is anathema to them.

[RaphaelDLG]

To what Tekken guy said, I'd agree and add: Democrats are the urban machine party and Jews live in cities, coupled with Democrats are progressive on civil rights from 1930-on and so are jews.

Jews are slowly becoming less democratic, however; they went from being the #1 democratic group, more monolithic than blacks, to (because of neocon sh**t, likely) slightly less so today

[NOVA Green]

Well, let's start with the Historical Roots of Judaism in America as the First Course, before we start getting too heavily into the New Deal Era, the Politics of the Post WW II era > Nixon > Reagan > Bush Jr > Obama > Trump....   

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-immigration-to-america-three-waves/

[Orser67]

After the Civil War, the two parties were united more by ethnocultural factors than by ideology. The Republican Party consisted primarily of Protestant, Northern whites, while the Democratic Party was a coalition of white Southerners and Northern, urban "ethnic whites" (i.e. Irish, Italians, Jews...essentially white non-WASPs). In the 1930s, Jewish voters became a key part of the New Deal coalition, which to some degree was an enhanced version of the already-existing Democratic coalition (though it also incorporated other groups, e.g. unions and African Americans).

In the 1970s, Democrats began losing ground with other ethnic whites for various reasons (suburbanization, racial turmoil, etc.). During this period, some Jewish voters also moved towards the Republican Party, though not to the same degree as other white ethnic groups. As the Republican Party increasingly became the party of evangelical Protestantism in the 1980s and 1990s, Jewish voters moved back into the Democratic Party.

If you look at political affiliation by religion, there's a spectrum with Mormons and evangelical Protestants being strongly Republican, mainline protestants and Catholics split roughly down the middle, Jews, Orthodox Christians, atheists, agnostics, Hindus, and Buddhists leaning towards the Democratic Party, and African-American churches leaning strongly towards the Democratic Party.

[Beet]

Can't guess why Jewish people would be leery of the right....

[Grassroots]

Very socially liberal, wealthy, etc.

Pretty much every Jewish person I know voted for Hillary.

[RaphaelDLG]

The events of the past week should make things obvious enough

[Tartarus Sauce]

Because most Jews in America outside of Orthodox circles live liberal, secular lifestyles and despise politics revolving around religious nationalism (e.g. the White Evangelical obsession with conflating American identity to explicit devotion of Christianity). Republicans have doubled down on being the party of White Christians seeking to keep America’s identity as primarily White and Christian, so it’s not that surprising that a group with cosmopolitan, secular tendencies votes against them in high numbers.

That’s not why Jews started becoming solid Democratic voters, but it is why they’ve stayed predominantly Democratic after other portions of the New Deal coalition have shifted towards Republicans.

[catographer]

Speaking as a liberal Jew myself, it's hard to vote for a party that primarily represents and loudly promotes Christian values because, well, we ain't Christian!

[OSR stands with Israel]

- The Religious Right would alienate them for obvious reasons

- I believe the vast majority of Jewish People live in Big Cities which have been Solidly Democratic since 1932


It’s actually very similar to Asians now

 

[Lord Admirale]

Most Jews live in urban areas which are already overwhelmingly Democratic.

[NOVA Green]

Although as an Atheist, I can't speak from personal experience to this question...

I did post a link to the history of the Jewish experience in America, that apparently is not of interest to most folks.

On an extremely personal level, my older Sister is Orthodox Jewish, her Husband converted 20+ Years back, and I have 5 Nieces and 1 Nephew, two of whom are now married and living in Pittsburgh PA.

I texted her on Shabbat, last Saturday after the mass murder scenes at the Tree of Life Temple, knowing that it was a situation, that unless there was an emergency immediately involving family, she would not be able to respond, and that in the event that any member of her immediately family was injured, she would be able to communicate, despite her Observant/Orthodox Jewish religious prohibitions.

Thankfully, none of my Family was murdered, nor the Family and Friends of my Nieces that reside in Pittsburgh in the same neighborhood.

Regardless of recent history, there are deep roots within the Jewish-American experience from the Diaspora, to the New Deal, to the Civil Rights Movement, and beyond that believe in the dream of an American that is transcendent of the Old European hatreds, and simply trying to survive within the context of the "American Dream".

Anyone that wants to look at historical Pogroms in America, must also certainly examine the Mormon Experience as well....

*** DEEP BREATH... TAKES A DRAG OFF A CIG.... CATCHES TRAIN OF THOUGHT ***

Let's look at it from another angle.... Jewish Immigration to the US spiked in the largest Cities of the NE with Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty being the Port of Call, at a time where the "Old Country" was becoming increasingly intolerant and the "New Country" appeared like a place where things might just be different...



http://experimental-origins.weebly.com/immigration.html

The myth and reality of Jewish Immigration from the "Old Country" to the "New Country" hit a giant rock wall when it came to the reality of WASP Republican dominated Nativist populations in the NE, not to mention the fierce competition for jobs within tight-knit communities in the largest Metro Areas (Irish, Italians, etc...).

Meanwhile even way back in the early '80s many of us folks are still reading "All of a Kind Family", talking about a family experience in NYC way back in the days....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Taylor

https://jewishlibraries.org/images/downloads/Sydney_Taylor_Book_Award/companion.pdf

https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B00CIZQ9EG

Although Jewish-Americans found a home here in the US, in so many countries where religious persecution was the the norm, it hasn't been any easy road.

I question why so many individuals create stereotypes can call out one or two individuals of Jewish-American Ancestry that have become successful in the world of Commerce, while not questioning the rule of the WASPS, let alone the Irish and Italian-American Immigrants of the same historical era, that tend to represent an extremely high % of the NYC Finance Sector. (Sigh... I suspect the White Nationalists believe that Jews took down the World Trade Center on 9/11).

[pops]

It's because Democrats are supportive of a two-state solution, which is what Israel has been pushing for.

[Lord Admirale]

Also, orthodox Jews vote overwhelmingly Republican. There are pockets of dark red in Brooklyn from 2016.

[Tekken_Guy]

Haredi Ultra-Orthodoz Jews, are, yes very Republican. They’re also pretty isolated from the rest of the world. They are essentially the Jewish version of Amish people.

Modern Orthodox are far less Republican than Haredi, but still more conservative than most Jews. They’re more assimilated. They do tend to strongly support Netanyahu and are very hawkish on foreign policy. They were pro-Bush and anti-Obama, but they’re less loyal to Trump. A lot of them broke with him on his handling of Charlottesville and are critical of how he responded to the Pittsburgh shooting.

Conservative and Reform nowadays are virtually identical politically. The difference is more theological, that Conservatives practice some religious traditions that Reformers have abandoned. They’re liberal, live secular lifestyles, and highly dovish. They love Obama and hate Trump, and have been souring on Netanyahu for several years. They have been more willing to criticize Israeli policy regarding the Palestinians and its treatment of non-Orthodox diaspora. Though none of them want Israel to stop existing, despite what many on the right say. However Israel is far less important to them than it is to more religious Jews. Their key policy issues are largely domestic, include welcoming immigrants and refugees, supporting LGBTQ rights, and passing stricter gun control laws.

[darklordoftech]

The Democrats have always been the party of immigrants.

[sg0508]

The Christian Right hasn't helped the GOP's cause with American Jews on a national level.  Then again, even before the 90s, Republicans never did well with Jews as a whole. 

[Technocracy Timmy]

Secular
Urban
College educated
Persecuted
White collar
Immigrant


Boy this is tough to figure out.

[Oryxslayer]

Conservative and Reform nowadays are virtually identical politically. The difference is more theological, that Conservatives practice some religious traditions that Reformers have abandoned. They’re liberal, live secular lifestyles, and highly dovish. They love Obama and hate Trump, and have been souring on Netanyahu for several years. They have been more willing to criticize Israeli policy regarding the Palestinians and its treatment of non-Orthodox diaspora. Though none of them want Israel to stop existing, despite what many on the right say. However Israel is far less important to them than it is to more religious Jews. Their key policy issues are largely domestic, include welcoming immigrants and refugees, supporting LGBTQ rights, and passing stricter gun control laws.

This is me except the dove part.

[darklordoftech]

Historically, right-wing Christianity, nationalism, and anti-semitism went together. The memory of this likely persists with many Jews.

[Skunk]

George Soros is telling them to, obviously.

[Comrade Funk]

CNN Exit Poll shows Jews went 79-17 in favor of Democrats

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

Secular
Urban
College educated
Persecuted
White collar
Immigrant


Boy this is tough to figure out.

You forgot BOLSHEVIK

[TDAS04]

As a historically and severely persecuted group themselves, Jews are often supportive of the economically and socially disadvantaged.  They were very active in the civil rights movement for blacks, and today Jews are not going to be overly favorable towards the party of nativism, homophobia, etc.

Then there are also the other things already mentioned, like education, urban environment, etc.