SAN DIEGO (SDJW)–Jewish organizations have been reacting to Tuesday’s election results in which Democrats won the House of Representatives and Republicans retained the U.S. Senate. Here in alphabetical order are their reactions:
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) — “AIPAC applauds the election yesterday of a solidly pro-Israel Congress. At a time of intense partisan polarization, candidates from both parties overwhelmingly expressed their support for Israel’s security and her efforts to reach peace with all of her neighbors.
“The 116th Congress will include many new members, as the American people elected over 90 new members of the House and Senate. Virtually all of the victors in this year’s election have issued position papers and statements reflecting their strong commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. Support for the U.S.-Israel relationship on Capitol Hill is strong, and we are committed to continuing to work on a bipartisan basis with the 116th Congress to further galvanize support for the alliance.
“We congratulate and welcome all who won election. We look forward to working with them to deepen the bonds between the United States and Israel.”
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American Jewish Congress — The organization’s president, Jack Rosen, said, “The American Jewish Congress congratulates the Democratic Party on earning a majority of seats in the US House of Representatives, as well as all candidates who won their respective elections last night, regardless of party affiliation. The American democratic process is a marvel of human progress, and remains an unshakable bedrock for our values even when our politics feel divided.
“There were numerous factors that played into the results of the elections. One of these factors of special concern for the Jewish Community was the rise in white nationalism and hate we have witnessed across the country. It played a role in the outcome of this election. To an extent, it was this climate that created the sense of urgency which drove such high voter turnout yesterday – an encouraging result arising from adverse circumstances. In some states, voters resisted problematic candidates with fervor; in others, hateful candidates made it farther than we ever thought possible.
“Hate is not a partisan issue; I encourage both parties to recognize that intolerance exists on both sides of the aisle, and not only in the far fringes. Democrats: Be mindful not only to cast blame across the aisle, but also to reflect on the anti-Semitism and prejudice exhibited by a few within your own party. Republicans: I hope this election will encourage you to reaffirm the egalitarian principles at your core, and remember the openness and sense of social justice upon which your party was built.
“Part of America’s healing after Pittsburgh and the other terrible hate crimes we have seen must be to stand tall for all minorities across America. Not only is it key to electoral victory, it is also consistent with our national values.”
Bend the Arc, Jewish Action — In response to the outcomes of the November 6, 2018 midterm elections, Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, released the following statement:
“We are breathing with a sense of relief for the first time in years. Last night’s election is a needed and hard-won victory for Americans who believe in justice, equality, and a thriving multiracial democracy. To win the House, voters overcame blatant voter suppression and extreme gerrymandering to elect a diverse slate of women, people of color, and LGBTQ candidates running on an agenda of inclusion, dignity, and democracy.
“For two years, we have lived under the tyranny of a president who lost the popular vote by three million votes, and a Republican Party that has fully embraced Trump’s central idea — that America exists only for one group of people at the subjugation of all others. They have championed white nationalist policies rooted in cruelty and in bigotry, in lies and in malice. Recent weeks have painfully revealed the horrific extent to which Trump and his party have made white nationalist ideology mainstream. Even after the worst antisemitic attack in American history, the President and his party continued to spread the exact same messages that motivated the shooter to murder innocent people in ads that were deemed too racist to air on television. In this election, we took an important step toward a future free of this worldview in our politics and government.
“Millions of Americans voted on the right side of history, and we will work tirelessly together in service to the vision of a multiracial democracy where all can live, love, and thrive. We celebrate an abundance of historic firsts: From the first openly gay governor of a state, to the first two Muslim women and first two Native American women in Congress, and the first Congress where over 100 women will serve as our representatives. We also celebrate the passage of Amendment 4 in Florida, which represents the largest expansion of voting rights since 1964, as well as ballot initiatives that protect Trans rights and expanded Medicaid.
“We are all indebted to everyone who rose up to resist the unique dangers of this president from day one. We honor the millions of Americans who have risen up time and again to defend America’s true values in our streets and in our airports when our elected officials failed to represent those values in the halls of power. We are grateful for the bold leadership of our allies: Immigrants, Muslims, women, people of color, LGBTQ Americans, and all who led the way in courageous opposition to policies that threatened their freedom and their very lives. We are relieved by the millions of Americans who voted with their progressive values and aspirations, rather than their fears. And we are humbled by the incredible groundswell of grassroots volunteers across the country who powered this win, including over 1,000 Bend the Arc volunteers, who reached out to over 250,000 voters across the country to secure victory in the House.
“Last night is only the beginning. The difficult but crucial work of holding President Trump and his allies accountable for their behavior is now more important than ever, and the new Congress must seize the opportunity to serve as a sorely needed check on a radical, out-of-control administration. We call on the new Congress to turn away from the racism, white nationalism, and hatred that has defined our government under the Trump administration and chart a different course for our future rooted in justice, respect, and equality for all.”
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action’s “Interrupt Trump” campaign door-knocked, called and texted more than 250,000 voters in 51 key Congressional districts. Bend the Arc: Jewish Action PAC raised and spent more than $500,000 to support a diverse slate of progressive candidates and endorsed a total of 42 candidates at the federal and gubernatorial levels.
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Republican Jewish Coalition — “The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) congratulates the winning Republican candidates elected to the U.S. House and Senate, as well as those who won gubernatorial, state senate and state assembly elections.
“RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said, ‘The wave of Republican victories in the 2018 midterms demonstrates the strong approval of the American people for the Republican policies that have substantially improved our economy, our national security, and our standing abroad.
“‘Historically, the party holding the White House loses seats in Congress during the midterm election. This year Republicans did well in a tough environment and increased their share in the Senate. And while we lost seats in the House, it should be noted that Democrats gained far fewer seats in the House this year compared to Republicans in recent history. Republicans gained 63 House seats in the 2010 midterms during President Obama’s first term and 52 in the 1994 midterms during President Clinton’s first term.’
“RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman said: ‘President Trump and the Republican-led Congress accomplished so much in the last two years, including: recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the US embassy there, taking us out of the Iran deal and re-imposing strong sanctions, cutting back regulations and growing jobs in this country.’
“Coleman continued: ‘Now it is time for Republicans and Democrats to come together to continue to move our country forward and pursue thoughtful legislation to grow our economy, reform health care, secure our borders, and strengthen the US-Israel alliance.’
“Brooks noted, ‘The RJC is particularly proud of the role we played in three critical elections: Brian Fitzpatrick’s House race against Democrat Scott Wallace in PA-1, Denver Riggleman’s House race against Democrat Leslie Cockburn in VA-5, and Kevin Cramer’s Senate race against Democrat Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota. The RJC’s Majority is the Priority outreach campaign highlighted issues that resonated with voters concerned about Israel and about the radical progressive anti-Israel views of the Democrats in those races. We invested $2 million in these three races with significant and effective ad campaigns. Due in large part to our efforts, the Republican won each of those seats. RJC efforts also played a role in some key GOP gubernatorial victories, including Florida and Ohio.’
“Brooks added: ‘One ongoing concern is the number of left-wing progressive Democrats who won in safe districts. Their views on Israel are distinctly at odds with the historic pro-Israel position of the Democratic Party and are far out of the mainstream of American Jewish opinion. The Jewish community will pay close attention to what the Democratic Party does about people like Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Antonio Delgado and their views. Will they be the face of the Democratic Party and the party’s new leaders in Congress?'”
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com