Jewish voters in New York are reportedly moving away from the Democratic Party, with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker attributing this shift to their support for Israel. On October 15, 2026, Piker reacted to a CNN segment featuring chief data analyst Harry Enten and anchor John Berman discussing the decline in support for Democrats among Jewish voters. Piker expressed concern that many Jewish voters are leaving the Democratic Party due to Israel's policies, stating, "It’s wild that this many Jewish voters are leaving the Democratic Party over Israel. It’s not like the Republican alternatives are presenting a more appealing policy agenda, it’s just Israel! It’s literally over the continuation of Israel’s belligerence. A real shame," on the platform X.
Enten highlighted that Jewish support for New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has decreased since her last election in 2022, according to recent Siena Polling data. He noted that the Democratic advantage over Republicans among Jewish voters in New York has narrowed by 36 points since 2022. "In 2018, Democrats were ahead by 40 points. In 2022, 49 points. The average of polls this year shows just a 13-point lead for Democrats. That is a shift of 36 points away from the Democrats," Enten explained.
Piker's comments faced backlash, with Republican Jewish Coalition communications director Sam Markstein stating that Piker's assertion plays into an antisemitic trope. Markstein said, "Hasan Piker’s statement that American Jews’ voting preferences are all about Middle East policy plays directly into the oldest antisemitic trope of dual loyalty. He is flat out wrong and is trivializing the very real spike in Jew hatred which directly threatens our community’s safety."
Shai Davidai, a former Columbia University professor, also criticized Piker, stating, "It's not 'over Israel.' It's over people like you." New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz added that Jewish voters have reasons to shift away from Democrats that extend beyond Israel, citing concerns about safety and violence against Jews in New York.
Piker has been a vocal critic of Israel and previously faced criticism for comments suggesting that American Jews' focus on Israel could lead to violence against them. Democratic Senators Elissa Slotkin and Jacky Rosen condemned Piker's remarks, emphasizing that no community should face violence for their political views. Rosen described Piker's comments as "a new low" and stated, "Blaming Jewish Americans for the violence and hate they’re facing is not just wrong; it provides an excuse to those perpetuating these anti-Jewish hate crimes."
Other Democrats, including Senator Cory Booker and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also condemned Piker's comments. Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who had previously campaigned with Piker, distanced himself from the streamer, affirming his commitment to Jewish safety and condemning any rhetoric that endangers the community. Fox News Digital reached out to Hasan Piker for comment but did not receive an immediate response.