Following 30 Jewish voters in 10 swing states through the 2020 election.
Moment’s 2020 Jewish Political Voices Project is taking a deep dive into the political views of the American Jewish community and bringing you along for the ride. Through another election, we are exploring the political and cultural forces splitting apart both the nation and American Jews.
Our Battleground States
Arizona
Total Jewish population
135,200
Percent of total population
1.9%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 41.1%
Republican: 22.7%
Independent: 33.9%
Other: 2.3%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 45%
Trump: 50%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 42%
Incumbent Republican: 56%
Senate
Democrat: 50%
Republican: 48%
House
Democrat: 5
Republican: 4
Total Jewish population
135,200
Percent of total population
1.9%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 41.1%
Republican: 22.7%
Independent: 33.9%
Other: 2.3%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 45%
Trump: 50%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 42%
Incumbent Republican: 56%
Senate
Democrat: 50%
Republican: 48%
House
Democrat: 5
Republican: 4
Robert Schwebel
Schwebel, a clinical psychologist specializing in drug abuse, had his bar mitzvah in Hungary, where his parents were on teaching sabbaticals. He created a drug counseling program focusing on the reasons behind addiction and recently published Leap of Power: Take Control of Alcohol, Drugs, and Your Life. Schwebel is also a human rights activist and has volunteered his time doing intake interviews for immigrants seeking asylum.
ABOUT
Age
71
Location
Tucson, AZ
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Clinical psychologist
Jewish denomination
Reform
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
March: Bernie Sanders
November: Bernie Sanders
October: Elizabeth Warren
September: Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren
2016 choice
Bernie Sanders in the primary; Hillary Clinton in the general
News sources
The New York Times, The Nation, Moment Magazine, MSNBC, CNN
Family
Married to a non-Jewish woman from Mexico; two sons in their 20s
Glenn Hamer
As head of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Hamer is a vocal proponent of international trade, advocating for an Arizona-Mexico trade alliance and serving on international delegations to China, Canada, Israel and the UK. He previously worked on Capitol Hill and was executive director of the Arizona Republican Party. He is married to a native Israeli whom he met at an AIPAC conference.
ABOUT
Age
50
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Party
Republican
Occupation
President and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce
Jewish denomination
Conservative
2020 choice
Current: Donald Trump
Previous: Undecided
2016 choice
3rd party candidate
News sources
The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, The Jerusalem Post, Forbes, Fox Business News radio, CNN radio, NPR, Real Clear Politics, Predict It, FiveThirtyEight, local news radio, Twitter
Family
Married with three daughters
Alma Hernandez
Hernandez is the first Jewish Mexican-American woman elected to the Arizona State House. Her brother is also a state representative in South Tucson, and her sister is on the school board. She grew up in a nonobservant intermarried family. She connected to Judaism as a teenager, has held leadership positions in several Jewish organizations and recently became a bat mitzvah.
ABOUT
Age
26
Location
Tucson, AZ
Party
Democrat
Occupation
State Representative
Jewish denomination
Reform
2020 choice
Joe Biden; preference has not changed
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
NPR, CNN, MSNBC, BBC News, local newspaper
Family
Single
Florida
Total Jewish population
736,300
Percent of total population
3.5%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 48.1%
Republican: 20%
Independent: 29.2%
Other: 2.7%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 48%
Trump: 49%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Incumbent Democrat: 49%
Republican: 50%
Senate
Democrat: 49.9%
Republican: 50.1%
House
Democrat: 13
Republican: 14
Total Jewish population
736,300
Percent of total population
3.5%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 48.1%
Republican: 20%
Independent: 29.2%
Other: 2.7%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 48%
Trump: 49%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Incumbent Democrat: 49%
Republican: 50%
Senate
Democrat: 49.9%
Republican: 50.1%
House
Democrat: 13
Republican: 14
Daniel Levin
Levin is a past president of the southeast region of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and served as a member of the Reform Movement’s Think Tank, a group seeking to create a “visioning process” for the future of Reform Judaism. He has also served on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
ABOUT
Age
50
Location
Boca Raton, FL
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth El
Jewish denomination
Reform
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
February: Undecided
November: Undecided
October: Cory Booker, Kamala Harris or Pete Buttigiege
September: Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigiege or Amy Klobuchar
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Atlantic, The New Republic, Commentary, CNN, NPR, MSNBC
Family
Married; three children
Miriam Laing
Laing has spent most of her career working for nonprofit Jewish organizations. An activist since childhood, she is very involved with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and lives just 32 miles from Parkland, Florida. She believes it is important that her children “understand what it means to be involved in your community and to give back and take responsibility.”
ABOUT
Age
50
Location
Lake Worth, FL
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Database manager for a non-profit
Jewish denomination
Reform
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
January: Elizabeth Warren
November: Kamala Harris
October: Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris or Cory Booker
September: Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigiege or Beto O’Rourke
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Washington Post, MSNBC, politicians’ Twitter accounts
Family
Married; two children
Lynne Toporov
Toporov grew up in an agnostic Philadelphia family surrounded by Democrats. Her grandfather was a Communist. She was confirmed but does not consider herself religious and does not currently belong to a synagogue. She always voted for Democrats, including President Barack Obama, until about four years ago when she started listening to conservative talk radio and found she connected to what she heard.
ABOUT
Age
76
Location
Sarasota, FL
Party
Republican
Occupation
Retired, former assistant to the news director at KYW Radio in Philadelphia
Jewish denomination
Unaffiliated
2020 choice
Donald Trump; preference has not changed
2016 choice
Donald Trump
News sources
Fox News, conservative radio station AM 930 WLSS
Family
Married with three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
Iowa
Total Jewish population
11,600
Percent of total population
<1%
Jewish voter party identification
Democrat: 47.5%
Republican: 17.4%
Independent: 32.9%
Other: 2.2%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 42%
Trump: 52%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 48%
Incumbent Republican: 50%
Senate
n/a
House
Democrat: 3
Republican: 1
Total Jewish population
11,600
Percent of total population
<1%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 47.5%
Republican: 17.4%
Independent: 32.9%
Other: 2.2%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 42%
Trump: 52%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 48%
Incumbent Republican: 50%
Senate
n/a
House
Democrat: 3
Republican: 1
Harlan “Bud” Hockenberg
Hockenberg is a fourth generation Des Moines resident and a member of the Conservative synagogue Tifereth Israel, where he is a former president. He is still a “very active” attorney and will attend his 53rd consecutive AIPAC conference in March 2020. He’s the former president of the Des Moines Jewish Federation and a founding member of what is now the Republican Jewish Coalition, as well as Iowans Supporting Israel, a bipartisan group.
ABOUT
Age
92
Location
Des Moines, IA
Party
Republican
Occupation
Business lawyer
Jewish denomination
Conservative
2020 choice
Donald Trump; preference has not changed
2016 choice
Donald Trump
News sources
Des Moines Register, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, MSNBC; “independent, reliable sources from both parties”
Family
Married; three children
Janice Weiner
Weiner is president-elect of her synagogue, Agudas Achim, and on its safety committee, an area where she gained expertise while in the Foreign Service. She is very active in the Democratic Party, serving as first vice-chair of the Johnson County Democrats (the “bluest county in Iowa”) and was recently elected to the city council in Iowa City. She also serves on the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council.
ABOUT
Age
61
Location
Iowa City, IA
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Retired Foreign Service; elected to City Council in Iowa City on November 5, 2019
Jewish denomination
Synagogue is combined Reform/Conservative
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
February: Caucused for Amy Klobuchar
October: Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren or Cory Booker
September: Undecided
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton (Worked with her and her staff while she was Secretary of State and First Lady. She “did well by people at State.”)
News sources
The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR; Facebook friends I trust and who post nuanced articles; Democrats at all levels in Iowa.
Family
Never married, raised two adopted daughters, now raising my 2-year-old granddaughter
Josh Mandelbaum
Mandelbaum comes from a long line of Iowans and attends Temple B’nai Jeshurun, the congregation his great-great-grandfather helped found in 1873. He works for the nonprofit Environmental Law Policy Center on clean energy and clean water issues. He has volunteered for political campaigns for more than 20 years and currently serves on the greater Des Moines Jewish Federation Board.
ABOUT
Age
40
Location
Des Moines, IA
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Environmental lawyer and member of Des Moines City Council
Jewish denomination
Reform
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
February: Caucused for Elizabeth Warren
September: Undecided
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, The Daily podcast, Twitter, candidates’ social media and emails
Family
Married with two young children
Michigan
Total Jewish population
116,200
Percent of total population
1.2%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 47%
Republican: 17.1%
Independent: 32.9%
Other: 3%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 47%
Trump: 48%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 53%
Republican: 44%
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 52%
Republican: 46%
House
Democrat: 7
Republican: 7
Independent: 1
Total Jewish population
116,200
Percent of total population
1.2%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 47%
Republican: 17.1%
Independent: 32.9%
Other: 3%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 47%
Trump: 48%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 53%
Republican: 44%
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 52%
Republican: 46%
House
Democrat: 7
Republican: 7
Independent: 1
Ariana Mentzel
At the Detroit Center for Civil Discourse, Mentzel leads college students in conversations about anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Named one of Detroit Jewish News’ “36 under 36,” she serves as the vice president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Mentzel also served as former Oakland County Chair of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus. She runs a preschool Shabbat program at her temple.
ABOUT
Age
34
Location
Beverly Hills, MI
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Managing Director at the Detroit Center for Civil Discourse
Jewish denomination
Conservative
2020 choice
Current: Voted for Joe Biden in open primary
January: Amy Klobuchar
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
NPR, BBC World, Potus (Sirius XM channel), Facebook, Twitter, CNN, MSNBC, Fox
Family
Married; two young children
Stuart Baum
Baum, who attended Jewish day school growing up, is a recent graduate of Wayne State University where he served as student government president. Baum was an intern in the Michigan state legislature, where he served as a community liaison, connecting residents’ concerns with legislative priorities. He now works at the Brennan Center for Justice on advancing and protecting voting rights. As a member of the LGBTQ community, he would like to see more attention paid to gay rights in the presidential campaign.
ABOUT
Age
22
Location
Detroit, MI
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Senior at Wayne State University, majoring in public affairs with a minor in criminal justice
Jewish denomination
Conservative
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
March: Voted for Bernie Sanders in open primary
November: Elizabeth Warren
October: Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders
September: Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders or Pete Buttigieg
2016 choice
Bernie Sanders in primary; Hillary Clinton in general
News sources
MSNBC, NBC’s Meet the Press, CNN, PBS’s Off the Record, local news, Facebook and Reddit posts and comments, Vice and Vox YouTube video news, debates, friends
Family
Single. His mother died about five years ago
Sander Eizen
Eizen grew up in a Modern Orthodox household in Oak Park, Michigan. He attended Jewish day school starting in nursery school and went to an Orthodox Zionist sleepaway camp. At the University of Michigan, he attends events at Hillel and the Jewish Resource Center, and lives in a house with eight students who come from Modern Orthodox or “Conservadox” backgrounds.
ABOUT
Age
21
Location
Ann Arbor, MI
Party
Republican
Occupation
Senior at the University of Michigan, majoring in political science; minoring in computer science
Jewish denomination
Modern Orthodox
2020 choice
Current: Undecided
March: Voted for Joe Biden in open primary
January: Amy Klobuchar or Michael Bloomberg
November: Bill Weld (R)
October: Pete Buttigieg
September: Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Andrew Yang, Michael Bennet or John Delaney
2016 choice
Wrote in Marco Rubio
News sources
National Review, Twitter, Bipartisan Policy Center, Students for Carbon Dividends
Family
Single. Father is a retired firefighter and mother is director of training for a geriatric consulting firm
Nevada
Total Jewish population
76,200
Percent of total population
2.5%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 44.2%
Republican: 20.3%
Independent: 32.8%
Other: 2.8%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 48%
Trump: 46%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 49%
Republican: 45%
Senate
Democrat: 50%
Incumbent Republican: 45%
House
Democrat: 3
Republican: 1
Total Jewish population
76,200
Percent of total population
2.5%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 44.2%
Republican: 20.3%
Independent: 32.8%
Other: 2.8%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 48%
Trump: 46%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 49%
Republican: 45%
Senate
Democrat: 50%
Incumbent Republican: 45%
House
Democrat: 3
Republican: 1
Shelley Berkley
Berkley served in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms (1999-2013), representing Nevada’s 1st District, which includes Las Vegas. In 2012, she ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. While in Congress, she was an outspoken supporter of Israel. At Touro University, Berkley oversees two medical schools—in Nevada and in northern California.
ABOUT
Age
68
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Former member of Congress; current CEO and Senior Provost of Touro University Western Division
Jewish denomination
Reform/Conservative
2020 choice
Joe Biden; preference has not changed
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The Washington Post, The Las Vegas Journal Sun, CNN, MSNBC; a “voracious reader” of newspapers, history books and historical documents
Family
Married; two adult children
Sandy Mallin
Mallin worked in Jewish philanthropy for 40 years, including as campaign chair of the Jewish Federation of Nevada and president of the board at Temple Beth Sholom. She is married to Stanley Mallin, 96, who developed and subsequently sold Caesars Palace and Circus Circus on the Las Vegas strip. Together, the couple founded The Sandra and Stanley Mallin Early Childhood Center in Las Vegas.
ABOUT
Age
76
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Party
Republican
Occupation
Philanthropist
Jewish denomination
Conservative
2020 choice
Donald Trump; preference has not changed
2016 choice
Initially Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, then Donald Trump
News sources
Fox News, One America News, conservative talk radio—Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro, Dennis Praeger
Family
Married; three children in their 50s from her first marriage, and two stepchildren
Felipe Goodman
Goodman is a Mexican immigrant. He was an assistant rabbi in Mexico City before joining Temple Beth Sholom in 1998. Named one of America’s most inspiring rabbis by The Forward in 2013, he participated in a series of White House meetings with President Barack Obama on relationships with the Jewish community and on Israel’s security. One reason he became a U.S. citizen 12 years ago was so he could vote.
ABOUT
Age
52
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Rabbi
Jewish denomination
Conservative
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
February: Pete Buttigieg
November: Pete Buttigieg
October: Joe Biden
September: Pete Buttigieg
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Times of Israel, The Jerusalem Post
Family
Married with three children over 18
North Carolina
Total Jewish population
112,500
Percent of total population
1.1%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 45.4%
Republican: 20.4%
Independent: 32.2%
Other: 2%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 47%
Trump: 51%
2018 midterm results
Governor
n/a
Senate
n/a
House
Democrat: 3
Republican: 10
Total Jewish population
112,500
Percent of total population
1.1%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 45.4%
Republican: 20.4%
Independent: 32.2%
Other: 2%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 47%
Trump: 51%
2018 midterm results
Governor
n/a
Senate
n/a
House
Democrat: 3
Republican: 10
Sandra Lawson
Lawson grew up in a nonpracticing Christian family and served in the Army during her college years. After leaving the military, she befriended a rabbi who introduced her to Judaism. She enjoyed going to synagogue and liked the Jewish community, so she decided to convert and ultimately attended rabbinical school. She identifies as queer and lives with her wife.
ABOUT
Age
50
Location
Burlington, NC
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Rabbi/Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life at Elon University
Jewish denomination
Reconstructionist
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
March: Voted early for Elizabeth Warren in primary
January: Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar or Joe Biden
September: Undecided
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, CNN, Twitter
Family
Married
Harvey “Svi” Shapiro
Shapiro grew up in London and lived there until his early 20s. He was very involved in the Zionist socialist movement (Habonim Dror) and lived for a time in Israel with members of the group. He moved to the U.S. to attend graduate school. He is the author or editor of 11 books on educational reform, social change and the moral dimensions of education.
ABOUT
Age
71
Location
Raleigh, NC
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Retired; former professor and department chair of Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations at University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Jewish denomination
Belongs to Conservative synagogue
2020 choice
Current: Voted for Bernie Sanders in primary
January: Undecided
November: Undecided
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Guardian, Haaretz, New York Review of Books, BBC World, PBS, MSNBC, CNN
Family
Married, with one daughter
Mark Goldhaber
Goldhaber worked for a Republican member of Congress, the National Republican Congressional Committee and was a Reagan appointee to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He is active in both the Jewish Federation and AIPAC. His wife is a Democrat and he’s a Republican, which they’ve “dealt with happily for 35 years.”
ABOUT
Age
67
Location
Raleigh, NC
Party
Republican
Occupation
Attorney working in housing and mortgage finance
Jewish denomination
Conservative
2020 choice
Current: Undecided
February: Mike Bloomberg; if voting Democrat
November: Undecided
October: Amy Klobuchar; if voting Democrat
September: Undecided
2016 choice
Marco Rubio and John Kasich in primary; voted Libertarian in general
News sources
The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Politico and various political podcasts: Dana Perino, The Rubin Report, Ben Shapiro, David Axelrod
Family
Married; two children
Ohio
Total Jewish population
161,400
Percent of total population
1.4%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 48.1%
Republican: 18.4%
Independent: 30.7%
Other: 2.8%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 44%
Trump: 52%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 47%
Republican: 50%
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 53%
Republican: 47%
House
Democrat: 4
Republican: 12
Total Jewish population
161,400
Percent of total population
1.4%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 48.1%
Republican: 18.4%
Independent: 30.7%
Other: 2.8%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 44%
Trump: 52%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 47%
Republican: 50%
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 53%
Republican: 47%
House
Democrat: 4
Republican: 12
Lavea Brachman
Brachman is an expert on urban policy who cofounded the Greater Ohio Policy Center. She grew up in an observant family with deep moderate-Republican roots in Ohio. Her family owned a paint and resin manufacturing company in Columbus, where her husband, Andrew Smith, who was also interviewed for this project, is currently CEO. She is in a “mixed marriage”—her husband is a Republican.
ABOUT
Age
56
Location
Columbus, OH
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Vice-president of programs for a Detroit-based foundation
Jewish denomination
Unaffiliated
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
February: Undecided
September: Joe Biden
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Detroit Free Press, Columbus Dispatch, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, NPR
Family
Married; two children
Andrew Smith
Smith grew up in Maine where he was raised Conservative, “because that’s pretty much all we had up there.” He is a long-time Republican who can’t stand Trump, and he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. When he married Lavea Brachman, a Democrat, who is also being interviewed for this project, he went to work in his in-laws’ paint and resin business in Columbus. He is now CEO.
ABOUT
Age
57
Location
Columbus, OH
Party
Republican
Occupation
CEO of a family-owned paint and resin company
Jewish denomination
Reform
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
February: Amy Klobuchar
November: Joe Biden or Andrew Yang
October: Undecided
September: Joe Biden
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Columbus Dispatch, The Economist, The Atlantic, Commentary, Fox News, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, local business press
Family
Married; two children
Nina Stanley
Nina Stanley’s “very liberal” leanings haven’t budged since May 4, 1970, when bullets fired by the Ohio National Guard struck down four fellow students at Kent State University during the Vietnam War protest. “I was shot at. A friend pushed me down. I had never heard gunfire in my life and had no idea they were using live ammunition. When I got up, I said something like, ‘I didn’t know blanks could do that to you.’”
ABOUT
Age
68
Location
Cincinnati, OH
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Retired nurse
Jewish denomination
Unaffiliated
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
January: Undecided
September: Pete Buttigieg
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
CNN, MSNBC, internet, “reads everything”
Family
Divorced with one daughter, one grandson
Pennsylvania
Total Jewish population
311,500
Percent of total population
2.4%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 55.8%
Republican: 18.4%
Independent: 23%
Other: 2.8%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 48%
Trump: 49%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Incumbent Democrat: 58%
Republican: 41%
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 56%
Republican: 43%
House
Democrat: 9
Republican: 9
Total Jewish population
311,500
Percent of total population
2.4%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 55.8%
Republican: 18.4%
Independent: 23%
Other: 2.8%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 48%
Trump: 49%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Incumbent Democrat: 58%
Republican: 41%
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 56%
Republican: 43%
House
Democrat: 9
Republican: 9
Nancy Santanello
Santanello was raised a Catholic and converted to Judaism when she married her Jewish husband. She doesn’t shy away from standing out. Santanello was the only white woman in her Howard University medical school class. She married a man who is 14 years her junior. And she is vocal about politics on Twitter, where she has nearly 2,000 followers. “Twitter is my outlet. Where else can you publicly tell President Trump that he’s a moron.”
ABOUT
Age
70
Location
New Hope, PA
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Health care consultant; retired Vice President of Epidemiology at Merck Research Laboratories
Jewish denomination
Reconstructionist
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
January: Joe Biden
September: Kamala Harris
2016 choice
Bernie Sanders in primary; Hillary Clinton in general
News sources
The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, Slate; monitors right-wing media such as The Daily Caller and Breitbart; Twitter
Family
Married; two adult children
Stephanie Wudarski
Wudarski does not belong to a synagogue but attends High Holy Day services with her family and went to Israel on Birthright. She works for a managed Medicaid company and has a background treating substance use disorders. She was a passionate supporter of Kamala Harris and volunteered for her campaign until Harris dropped out of the race in December.
ABOUT
Age
30
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Clinical social worker
Jewish denomination
Reform
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
January: Joe Biden
September: Kamala Harris
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The Washington Post, MSNBC, Twitter
Family
Married
Lou Weiss
Weiss grew up a Reform Jew in a “McGovern liberal family” in Pittsburgh. His conservative political views took hold in a college freshman political science class. Today, he belongs to four synagogues. He was president of Congregation Or L’Simcha, the synagogue that merged in 2010 with the Tree of Life congregation. He occasionally writes op-eds for The Wall Street Journal.
ABOUT
Age
63
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Party
Republican
Occupation
Retired; previously ran family carpet business
Jewish denomination
Conservative, but also belongs to Reform, Orthodox and Chabad congregations
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
November: Mike Bloomberg
October: Mike Bloomberg or Bill Weld (R)
September: Mike Bloomberg or Amy Klobuchar
2016 choice
Marco Rubio in the primary; wrote in his wife in general election
News sources
The Wall Street Journal editorial page, The New York Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Drudge Report, Bret Baier on Fox News, Dennis Prager’s radio show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross
Family
Married with four adult daughters; one is New York Times columnist Bari Weiss
Virginia
Total Jewish population
166,200
Percent of total population
1.9%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 48.6%
Republican: 17.7%
Independent: 31.1%
Other: 2.6%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 50%
Trump: 45%
2018 midterm results
Governor
n/a
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 57%
Republican: 41%
House
Democrat: 7
Republican: 4
Total Jewish population
166,200
Percent of total population
1.9%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 48.6%
Republican: 17.7%
Independent: 31.1%
Other: 2.6%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 50%
Trump: 45%
2018 midterm results
Governor
n/a
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 57%
Republican: 41%
House
Democrat: 7
Republican: 4
Beth Bendheim
Prior to working in the financial industry, Bendheim held public relations and marketing positions in the sports world, including with a North American cycling race originally sponsored by Donald Trump and known as the Tour de Trump. She was also the development director for the Jewish day school in Richmond. Bendheim was active in the 2018 Virginia congressional campaign of Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who defeated incumbent Republican Dave Brat.
ABOUT
Age
50
Location
Richmond, VA
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Works for a financial company in content development and strategy
Jewish denomination
Raised Orthodox; now Reform. Attends Chabad services.
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
March: Voted for Elizabeth Warren in open primary
January: Undecided
October: Elizabeth Warren
September: Elizabeth Warren or Joe Biden
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Hill, HuffPost, NPR, MSNBC, CBS News. Will go to Fox News to see what they’re saying
Family
Divorced; 16-year-old son
Michael Ginsberg
Ginsberg, an attorney and aerospace engineer, is vice president and deputy general counsel for CACI International, an information technology company that contracts with federal defense and intelligence agencies. He is a leader of the Suburban Virginia Coalition, which aims to improve Republican standing in suburban communities that have “taken a hit over the last several cycles.”
ABOUT
Age
45
Location
Centerville, VA
Party
Republican
Occupation
Attorney in the national security field
Jewish denomination
Reform/Conservative
2020 choice
Donald Trump; preference has not changed
2016 choice
Donald Trump
News sources
The National Review, The New York Times columnists, conservative political blog Hot Air
Family
Married; two children, ages four and nine months
Alan Zimmerman
Zimmerman was president of Congregation Beth Israel in Charlottesville during the Unite the Right march in August 2017. Zimmerman remembers standing on the steps, watching armed neo-Nazis shouting “Heil Hitler.” He was “not surprised that there is anti-Semitism in America—I’m not naïve—but that it could be displayed so brazenly and even proudly in the streets of an American city was frankly shocking.”
ABOUT
Age
61
Location
Charlottesville, VA
Party
Independent
Occupation
Financial journalist
Jewish denomination
Conservative
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
March: Elizabeth Warren
February: Elizabeth Warren or Amy Klobuchar
November: Elizabeth Warren
September: Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg or Amy Klobuchar
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine’s Intelligencer, CNN, MSNBC, occasionally Fox News, Talking Points Memo, the blog Blue Virginia, the conservative website Bearing Drift
Family
Married with three children in their 20s
Wisconsin
Total Jewish population
46,400
Percent of total population
<1%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 47.3%
Republican: 18.9%
Independent: 31.5%
Other: 2.3%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 47%
Trump: 48%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 50%
Incumbent Republican: 48%
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 55%
Republican: 45%
House
Democrat: 3
Republican: 5
Total Jewish population
46,400
Percent of total population
<1%
Jewish party identification
Democrat: 47.3%
Republican: 18.9%
Independent: 31.5%
Other: 2.3%
2016 presidential results
Clinton: 47%
Trump: 48%
2018 midterm results
Governor
Democrat: 50%
Incumbent Republican: 48%
Senate
Incumbent Democrat: 55%
Republican: 45%
House
Democrat: 3
Republican: 5
Eliot Strickon
Strickon is the child of anthropologists who were students of Margaret Mead. He describes himself as a Bundist (a secular Jewish socialist movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s), as opposed to a socialist. His grandmother was in the hat makers union starting in the 1930s, and he, his mother and sister were in teachers’ unions. Strickon lives in a Jewish Orthodox and African American urban community and serves on his synagogue’s board.
ABOUT
Age
54
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Retired teacher in the United States and Israel
Jewish denomination
Ultra-Orthodox
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
April: Voted for Bernie Sanders in primary
January: Amy Klobuchar
November: Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker or Bernie Sanders
October: Elizabeth Warren or Cory Booker
September: Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker or Kamala Harris
2016 choice
Bernie Sanders in primary; Hillary Clinton in the general
News sources
NPR, CNN, multiple news outlets in his social media feed, Fox News (to keep track of other viewpoints), local radio, Jewish Community Relations Council
Family
Married; three sons—two school-aged and one in college
Hannah Rosenthal
Rosenthal originally thought she would follow her father, a 16th-generation rabbi, into the family business. Instead, she became a “professional Jew” and a “professional feminist.” Rosenthal has held a range of political and government roles, including Midwest regional director at the Department of Health and Human Services (Clinton administration) and the U.S. State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism (Obama administration).
ABOUT
Age
68
Location
Madison, WI
Party
Democrat
Occupation
Retired; former president and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Milwaukee
Jewish denomination
Reform
2020 choice
Current: Joe Biden
January: Undecided
October: Cory Booker
September: Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris
2016 choice
Hillary Clinton
News sources
The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC
Family
Divorced; two daughters and three grandchildren
Ruth Kantrowitz
Kantrowitz, an Israeli immigrant, moved to the U.S. in 1989 at age 13 when her family won the green card lottery. She calls herself a “very liberal conservative” who supports both abortion and gun rights. Kantrowitz carried twins for a New York gay couple. She voted twice for President Barack Obama, but says his presidency pushed her to become a Republican because of “handouts” and “immigrants living off tax dollars.”
ABOUT
Age
42
Location
Mequon, WI
Party
Republican
Occupation
Owns and runs seven group homes for the elderly and people with disabilities
Jewish denomination
Belongs to a Reform synagogue, but doesn’t want to define her denomination
2020 choice
Donald Trump; preference has not changed
2016 choice
Donald Trump
News sources
Fox News, Breitbart, Facebook, a friend who follows alternative news outlets, conservative friends
Family
Married with two school-age children and one foster child