Most Early 2028 Dems Oppose US Aid to Israel

A new survey reveals that most United States Democratic voters in the key early 2028 primary states oppose sending aid and weapons to Israel. The findings come from the IMEU Policy Project, a think tank dedicated to protecting Palestinian human rights. They released the data late Monday.

The poll was conducted by YouGov. It shows a majority of Democrats in South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. These six states will hold the first contests for the 2028 presidential nominee. Their votes carry outsized weight in selecting the party leader and potentially the next US president.

In Michigan, results showed stark numbers. Eighty percent of respondents answered yes to the question about genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. This figure rose to 91 percent among voters under age 45. The IMEU Policy Project notes that support for Israel within the Democratic base has become negligible. For instance, only 2 percent of South Carolina respondents favored military support.

Majorities across these states also back imposing sanctions on Israel. They want enforcement of the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamid Bendaas, a spokesperson for IMEU, told Al Jazeera that voters support policies mainstream media often dismiss as unrealistic. He noted these views belong to people who will be decisive in choosing the next nominee.

The Democratic Party finalized its 2028 primary calendar recently. South Carolina hosts the first contest on January 22. Weekly elections follow in the other five states. Early results usually give momentum to top finishers while eliminating contenders who fail to make a mark. The vote is still sixteen months away, but these findings could shape candidate platforms.

Israel has lost Democratic support rapidly for years. This trend accelerated after the war on Gaza began in October 2023. Despite this, Democratic leadership maintains its backing of Israel. Under former President Joe Biden, the US provided tens of billions of dollars while turning nearly all of Gaza into rubble. Current Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries also remain staunch supporters.

Yet cracks are widening in decades-long bipartisan support for Israel in Washington. The IMEU data matches other polls showing this shift. Limited access to information often hides these realities from the public eye. Communities face risks as political alliances fracture under pressure of moral conviction.

More than one hundred Democrats in the House voted last summer to stop sending weapons to Israel, nearly flipping half their caucus. Progressive opponents of that aid won Democratic primaries across the country recently. This trend suggests policy on Israel and Palestine will dominate the 2028 presidential race. Abdul El-Sayed shocked party leaders this month by winning Michigan's Senate nomination despite spending over $60 million against his pro-Israel rival. Bendaas argues the upcoming election could finally narrow the gap between what voters want and what the Democratic Party does. He told Al Jazeera that a new leader taking fresh positions helps parties shift quickly. Unfortunately, current leadership holds very status quo views on the US-Israel relationship. The party needs a new head who actually reflects its voters.