U.S. election primer: Did Oct. 7 change the way American Jews will vote?

Professsor William D. Adler joins from Illinois to talk swing states and voting blocs.
Former president Donald Trump (left) faces off against Vice-President Kamala Harris in the American election happening Nov. 6, 2024. (Photos by Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons)

With the U.S. election less than a week away, the hosts of Bonjour Chai are turning their attention south with a comprehensive pre-election primer. Pollsters tend to lump Jewish voters together in a bloc, but there are different priorities for Jewish communities across the United States—and Jewish residents of certain swing states, namely Pennsylvania, are seeing the brightest spotlight this year.

Besides, there are issues on the ballot beyond antisemitism and relations with Israel. Affordability, the economy and religious issues such as abortion rights all figure into Jewish voting patterns. Does Vice-President Kamala Harris’s Jewish husband tip the scales? Do former president Donald Trump’s Jewish daughter and son-in-law? How did Oct. 7 change things? Or does none of that matter in a presidential election that could be won more on vibes than facts?

To answer some of these questions, we’re joined by William D. Adler, an associate professor at Northeastern Illinois University who specializes in American political development and the presidency.

Credits

  • Hosts: Avi Finegold and Phoebe Maltz Bovy (@BovyMaltz)
  • Production team: Michael Fraiman (producer), Zachary Kauffman (editor)
  • Music: Socalled

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