For many people, the Democratic Party agenda has been hijacked from a fully committed pro-Israel stance to one where division and calls for the dismantling of the only Jewish country are tolerated. Alarmingly, it seems that the extreme left progressive stance is gaining strength. Many centrist oriented people have drifted away from the party as the Democratic Party has left them behind. I’d like to share my experience and thoughts on the matter.
In 2015, I voted in a primary election for the first time. I voted in the Republican Party primary contest. This act of voting in the Republican primary classified me as an official Republican. Later I learned that being classified as a Republican would prohibit me from voting in future Democratic Party primaries. I then began noticing that the Democratic Party was selecting more progressive and hostile to Israel nominees to run in the general elections. I then wondered how many of my centrist peers had registered as Republican (willfully or inadvertently), thus allowing more progressive, and possibly anti-Israel candidates, to gain their party’s nomination for the general election?
This led me to an important thought process. I live in New Jersey, a very blue state (as are New York and Connecticut). The likelihood of Republicans winning elections is small. Perhaps my biggest influence in elections is on the primary level, in attempting to thwart the selection of very leftist/progressive candidates from winning the party nomination. Furthermore, I can vote however I want in the general elections, regardless of party affiliation. Since that realization, I have changed my political party affiliation to the Democratic Party.
This year, a New Jersey Senate seat might be up for grabs, as Sen. Menendez is up for re-election. Furthermore, there are many more positions from the local to the state and to the federal level that we must consider. I encourage those who agree with my thinking to make sure that you can vote in the Democratic Party primary and that you select the most centrist pro-Israel candidate, so that we can shift the party more toward a centrist pro-Israel position again.
In 2024, the New Jersey primary election will be on June 4. To be able to vote in the Democratic Party primary, you must change party affiliation 55 days in advance of June 4. To play it safe, and if you agree with my thinking, I suggest you take action before March 21. To change your voter registration, you just re-register to vote. You can do this online. I am certain New York and Connecticut have similar policies which you can find online at NJ DOS – Division of Elections – Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form.
