Rep. Becca Balint, a Democrat from Vermont, shared her experiences regarding antisemitism within the party during an interview with CNN. She recounted an incident where a fellow House Democrat suggested that antisemitism was not an issue because 'all the Jews are rich.' Balint, along with other Jewish Democratic politicians, expressed concerns about rising antisemitism, particularly in relation to grassroots campaigns affecting established political figures such as California state Sen. Scott Wiener, who has faced heckling from anti-Israel activists.
Balint described feeling 'shaken to [her] core' after witnessing the treatment of Wiener due to his support for Israel and Jewish heritage. She noted a fear of backlash for her own beliefs, stating, 'I know at some point there will be a day of reckoning because I still believe that Jews should have a homeland.' Balint emphasized her support for a two-state solution and the need for both Israelis and Palestinians to have secure homelands.
Other Jewish Democrats, including New York City comptroller Mark Levine and Michigan state Rep. Noah Arbit, voiced their concerns about the political climate, suggesting that Israel has become a litmus test within the party. Levine remarked on the tendency for discussions on various topics to eventually link back to Israel, while Arbit expressed uncertainty about his future alignment with the Democratic Party due to perceived hostility towards the Jewish community.