CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten expressed surprise during a July 2 segment with anchor Kate Bolduan over a dramatic swing in Democratic sentiment toward Israel. Enten cited polling data tracing a dramatic shift starting in 2017, when Democrats leaned pro‑Israeli by 13 points—now flipped to pro‑Palestinian by 43 points, marking a 56‑point swing in under eight years.
The departure is most pronounced among younger Democrats (ages 18–49), a group that showed 14‑point sympathy toward Israel in 2017 and now favors Palestinians by 57 points—a staggering shift of over 70 points. Enten noted the realignment reshapes the party’s foreign policy stance and underpinned primary results like Zohran Mamdani’s victory, despite criticisms from figures like Andrew Cuomo over his stance on Israel.
Bolduan emphasized that while Mamdani is labeled “anti‑Israel,” the polling shows Democrats broadly pessimistic toward Washington’s traditional pro‑Israel alignment. Enten stressed this isn’t limited to age: even those over 50 have shifted significantly.
The data presents a generational and ideological reshaping within the Democratic Party. Longtime alliances, especially among liberal voters, appear to be breaking down.
