Full Breakdown
Democratic Voters in Early 2028 Primary States Oppose U.S. Aid to Israel
8/28/2026, 8:30:58 AM
Poll Findings
A YouGov survey commissioned by the IMEU Policy Project found that voters in the six states that will hold the first Democratic primaries for the 2028 presidential election overwhelmingly view Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal and reject U.S. military assistance. In Michigan, 80 % of respondents answered “yes” to the question of whether Israel is committing genocide, rising to 91 % among voters under 45. In South Carolina, 52 % oppose selling arms to Israel—a stance that would amount to an embargo if enacted—while only 2 % support continued military aid. Across all six states, majorities also favored sanctions on Israel and the enforcement of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Background: Declining Democratic Support for Israel
U.S. backing for Israel has eroded among Democrats over the past several years, a shift accelerated by the war in Gaza that began in October 2023. Former President Joe Biden, who has described himself as a Zionist, authorized tens of billions of dollars in aid to Israel. Current Democratic leaders—including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries—remain staunch supporters. Nonetheless, progressive challengers have begun winning congressional primaries, and in July more than 100 House Democrats—nearly half the caucus—voted to block weapons shipments to Israel.
Official Reactions and Potential Impact
Bendaas warned that the 2028 race could further widen the gap between public opinion and Democratic leadership, pressuring candidates to align with the anti-aid sentiment.
The Democratic Party finalized its 2028 primary calendar this month, designating January 22 as the date for the South Carolina contest, followed by weekly primaries in Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia. The early results are expected to shape candidate platforms on Israel-Palestine policy and could force a reassessment of the party’s longstanding bipartisan support for Israel.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These things when they’re discussed, it’s often as ‘This is something that is out of the mainstream’, but they’re overwhelmingly supported by the voters who are probably going to be pretty decisive in deciding the next nominee for president in the Democratic Party,” — Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamid Bendaas, a spokesperson for IMEU Policy Project
