A recent poll indicates that a majority of Democratic voters in the first six states to vote for the 2028 presidential nominee oppose providing aid and weapons to Israel. The survey, released by the IMEU Policy Project, a think tank that supports Palestinian human rights, suggests a decline in support for Israel among Democrats.
Conducted by YouGov, the poll found that most voters in South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. In Michigan, 80 percent of respondents, including 91 percent of voters under 45, affirmed this belief. In South Carolina, 52 percent of respondents opposed selling arms to Israel, which could be interpreted as support for an arms embargo.
Support for imposing sanctions on Israel and enforcing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also noted among respondents across all six states. Hamid Bendaas, a spokesperson for IMEU Policy Project, stated that support for Israel within the Democratic base has significantly diminished. For instance, only 2 percent of South Carolina respondents favored military support for Israel.
Bendaas pointed out that voters are backing strong policies against Israel, such as sanctions, which are often dismissed by mainstream media as unrealistic. The Democratic Party finalized its 2028 primary calendar this month, designating South Carolina as the first nomination contest on January 22, followed by elections in the other five states. These primaries are expected to influence the momentum of candidates.
The findings from IMEU align with other polls indicating a trend of decreasing support for Israel among Democrats, particularly following the escalation of conflict in Gaza that began in October 2023. Despite this, Democratic leadership, including President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, has continued to support Israel.
Recent actions in Congress reflect a growing divide, with over 100 Democrats voting to block weapons to Israel. The 2028 presidential race may further align Democratic candidates with the shifting public opinion on Israel-Palestine, as noted by Bendaas, who emphasized the need for new leadership that reflects voter sentiments.