Hasan Piker rips New York Jewish voters' shift away from Democrats, blames Israel
Jewish voters in New York appear to be moving away from the Democratic Party, and controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker blamed the shift on their support for Israel.
On Wednesday, Piker responded to a CNN clip in which the network's chief data analyst, Harry Enten, and anchor John Berman discussed the drop in support for Democrats among Jewish voters, expressing dismay that they were shifting away from the party.
"It’s wild that this many jewish voters are leaving the democratic party over israel. It’s not like the republican alternatives are presenting a more appealing policy agenda, it’s just israel! It’s literally over the continuation of israel’s belligerence. A real shame," Piker wrote on X.
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In the segment, Enten explained that Jewish support for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, dropped since her last election in 2022, according to recent Siena Polling. Enten then revealed that Democrats' advantage over Republicans among Jewish voters in New York had narrowed by 36 points since 2022, according to Siena Polling averages.
"State of New York U.S. House polling among Jewish voters. Look at this. In 2018, Democrats were ahead by 40 points," Enten said. "In 2022, 49 points. Look at this, the average of polls this year. Its just 13 points. It's just 13 points. That is a shift of, what, 36 points, 36 points away from the Democrats. Their lead has absolutely tumbled into the Hudson River among Jewish voters.
"Yes, they are still ahead. But we are talking about historically strong numbers for Republicans among Jewish voters," the analyst added.
"It definitely seems to me that the developments over the past few years, at least in New York, at least in this polling, (have) had a huge impact on how Jewish voters say they are going to vote, not just for governor, but for Congress as well."
Piker faced backlash over his assertion that the shift was solely about Israel, with Republican Jewish Coalition communications director Sam Markstein telling Fox News Digital that the streamer's accusation was rooted in an antisemitic trope.
"Hasan Piker’s statement that American Jews’ voting preferences are all about Middle East policy plays directly into the oldest antisemitic trope of dual loyalty. He is flat out wrong and is trivializing the very real spike in Jew hatred which directly threatens our community’s safety," Markstein said.
"Let’s be clear: American Jews are fleeing the Democratic Party because its leadership continues to elevate, embrace and appease the most radicalized elements of their anti-America extremist party base. The sad irony is that antisemitic bigot Hasan Piker, who said 'America deserved 9/11,' and who has been elevated by national Democrats, including campaigning with Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, is Exhibit A," he added.
Shai Davidai, a former Columbia University professor and author of "American Intellectual Antisemitism," also responded to Piker on X, saying, "It's not 'over Israel.' It's over people like you."
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New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz argued in her response to Piker that Jewish voters have reasons to shift away from Democrats that go beyond Israel.
"Even setting aside support for Israel, which Jews should absolutely not, Jews are regularly assaulted in NY and no Democrats care. They aren't allowed to defend themselves and the mayor regularly riles up the attackers. Easy call to vote Republican," Markowicz wrote on X.
Piker, who has long been a vocal critic of Israel, has criticized Jewish Americans' support for the Jewish state. In August, the streamer was panned by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle after he said, "People don't f--- with Israel any longer. And if Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they're singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone will come around and take action not against Israel, mind you, but against American Jews."
Critics accused Piker of blaming Jews for antisemitic attacks against them. Democratic Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., condemned Piker's remarks.
"This shouldn’t be hard: no community should face the threat [of] violence for their political views. Period," Slotkin wrote in a statement posted to social media. "That goes if you’re pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, pro-choice, pro-life or any other cause you care about. And blaming the victims of violence for bringing it on themselves only further endangers people."
Rosen said the remarks were "a new low" for the controversial Twitch streamer.
"Blaming Jewish Americans for the violence and hate they’re facing is not just wrong, it provides an excuse to those perpetuating these anti-Jewish hate crimes," Rosen said in a statement.
"Let me be absolutely clear: crimes against Jews for being Jews is antisemitism plain and simple. There’s no excuse for it."
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Other Democrats joined in condemning Piker, including Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; and Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J.; Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.; Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.; Brad Schneider, D-Ill.; Greg Stanton, D-Ariz.; and Hillary Scholten, D-Mich.
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who was criticized for campaigning with Piker, distanced himself from the streamer after the controversial remarks.
"I believe all Americans deserve the right to advocate for what they believe without fear of violence. This is particularly true for communities that have been intimidated for their beliefs in the past," El-Sayed wrote on X.
"My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own daughters," he added. "Antisemitism is a scourge, and we need to address it in all its forms. And I stand against any rhetoric that puts the community at risk."
Fox News Digital reached out to Hasan Piker for comment but did not immediately receive a response.