Read the full piece in The Times of Israel
By Steven Davidson
NEW YORK — They may be in politics and not the food industry, but one Jewish organization has labeled US President Donald Trump’s policies as “not kosher.”
As Democrats mull how they will unseat governing Republicans in November’s upcoming midterm elections, there is an additional, internal struggle between establishment Democrats advocating for moderate nominees, and a leftist insurgency backing staunch progressives.
Launched in mid-July, The Jewish Vote belongs to the latter group. The new organization says it is “harnessing the power of the #JewishResistance to build grassroots power and elect true progressives willing to stand up to Trump’s treif agenda.”
But before they take a stab at the Republicans, The Jewish Vote is looking to sink its teeth into centrist Democratic incumbents.
Founded by members of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), a progressive organization based in New York City, the organization aims to unseat moderate Democrats in New York and replace them with unabashed progressives.
While JFREJ has done grassroots work for nearly 30 years to advance causes like affordable housing, prison reform and police accountability, until now, they haven’t gotten involved in elections.
That changed when Trump won the US presidency in 2016.
“Jews are part of progressive movements and have been for a very long time, but we haven’t had an electoral vehicle to help us express that in elections,” said Audrey Sasson, the executive director of The Jewish Vote. “That can’t continue.”
Sasson also serves as executive director of JFREJ, The Jewish Vote’s sister organization.
With 25 percent of all US Jews residing in New York, The Jewish Vote seeks to mobilize the approximately 70% of Jews that typically vote Democrat to shift left when the Empire State’s Democratic primaries are held on September 13.
“People are hungry for a bolder vision, and centrist Democrats will not take us to where we need to go,” said Sasson.
Among its policy positions, The Jewish Vote seeks to abolish ICE, protect Muslims and immigrants, fight rampant corruption and advance legislation for single-payer health care, affordable housing and criminal justice reform.
The organization believes the most effective way to do so is through local politics. So far, The Jewish Vote has endorsed four progressive candidates who are challenging more moderate Democratic incumbents in New York: Cynthia Nixon for New York governor, Jumaane Williams for New York lieutenant governor, Julia Salazar for New York State Senate District 18 and Alessandra Biaggi for New York State Senate District 34. All of these races are considered “safe” for Democrats in the general election.