By: Jared Evan

In a political stunner that should send shockwaves through the Democratic Party and beyond, a new poll shows far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) dominating five-term incumbent Sen. Chuck Schumer in a hypothetical primary matchup — and even pulling ahead among Jewish voters.

The results, first reported by the New York Post, reveal an astonishing political realignment that raises serious concerns for both the future of the Democratic Party and the pro-Israel community.

According to the poll conducted by Honan Strategy Group for the Jewish Voters Action Network (JVAN), Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the radical “Squad” and outspoken critic of Israel, leads Schumer 54% to 33% among likely Democratic voters in New York City. But perhaps most alarming is her lead among Jewish Democrats — 45% to 33%, with 17% undecided.

As the New York Post first reported, this is more than a routine political shift. It’s a glaring red flag for mainstream Democrats and a moral crisis for Jewish voters. AOC, who has called Israel’s war response to Hamas terrorism “genocide,” supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and aligns with the Democratic Socialists of America — a group that has openly championed anti-Israel rhetoric and policies.

“This is a massive wake-up call for Schumer,” said Maury Litwack, co-founder of the Jewish Voters Action Network, in comments to the New York Post. “He’s not only bleeding support in the Democratic Party overall but also in the Jewish community.”

It’s a shocking development. Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history, has long depended on Jewish voters as a reliable core of his base. Yet the New York Post reports that even this once-solid bloc is now slipping away, just three years after the deadliest antisemitic attack on Jews in Israel’s modern history.

Ocasio-Cortez’s anti-Israel record is well documented. She rushed to condemn Israel’s retaliation against Hamas terrorists who butchered civilians on October 7, 2023, calling it “an unfolding genocide.” She has downplayed Hamas atrocities while remaining largely silent on the wave of antisemitic hate that swept across American campuses and cities in the aftermath. And yet, some Jewish Democrats are now considering her as a better alternative to Schumer?

It’s hard to overstate how stunning — and disturbing — that is.

While Litwack admitted the poll may reflect more dissatisfaction with Schumer than genuine support for AOC, the implications are troubling either way. Schumer has faced criticism for not taking stronger action during the surge in antisemitism following the October 7 attacks. He failed to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act while Democrats still held both chambers of Congress. Worse, he was accused — though he denies it — of advising Columbia University officials to downplay antisemitism on campus, a charge documented in a House investigative report.

Schumer’s credibility with progressive activists has also taken a hit. After Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, Schumer angered the left by supporting a six-month government funding bill. Many on the far-left felt betrayed, accusing him of being too conciliatory. Some even called on him to step down as Democratic leader in the Senate.

Still, none of that justifies a shift toward a radical like AOC, whose policies and rhetoric often mirror those of Israel’s fiercest enemies. Jewish voters supporting Ocasio-Cortez — knowingly or not — risk empowering someone who has equated Israel with apartheid regimes and opposed key measures to protect Jewish students and institutions.