PHILADELPHIA — The Republican party is seizing the opportunity to gain voters in Pennsylvania's Jewish community, in large part due to recent concerns about US policy toward Israel and antisemitism. Polls indicate that more Jews in Pennsylvania remain loyal to the Democrats and will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, as both candidates make pleas to the community.

Background 

Pennsylvania is home to roughly 400,000 Jews, 300,000 of which are of voting age, according to the American Jewish Committee, making up 3% of the Pennsylvania electorate. 

The majority of Jewish adults in the state, roughly 78%, live in eight congressional districts, all except one of which are in the eastern part of Pennsylvania known as the Delaware Valley, according to a 2021 Brandeis University report. There is a sizable community in Pittsburgh as well. Like in other states, the Jewish community in Pennsylvania has historically supported the Democratic Party. According to the same Brandeis University study, 67% of the state's Jewish electorate were Democrats or leaned Democrat, while 26% were Republicans or leaned Republican. US President Joe Biden defeated Trump by 80,000 votes in the 2020 election, and Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by around 44,000 votes in 2016.