Poll data shows partisan divide over Israel support in Senate race

A new Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics poll reveals a widening partisan divide over U.S. Support for Israel, a factor that could influence the upcoming Michigan Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. While a majority of American voters support maintaining or increasing diplomatic ties with Israel, opinions on military and financial aid have fractured along party lines.

The poll found that Republicans favored continued or elevated military support for Israel at a rate 34 percentage points higher than Democrats. Similarly, Republican voters were 24 points more likely than Democrats to desire further financial support. Independents, however, tended to be as skeptical as Democrats toward special treatment of Israel, creating a potential opening for candidates in swing states to leverage voter frustration with foreign policy.

The U.S.-Israel relationship has become a central campaign issue, with El-Sayed making criticism of Israel a key part of his platform and Rogers appealing to Jewish voters who expressed concern about progressive candidates. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee pledged $9 million to support Rogers in the final stretch of the campaign, following a period where the group spent $30 million in the Democratic primary.

Read the full story at deseret.com.