Results from AJC’s 2020 Survey of American Jewish Opinion, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on telephone interviews carried out September 9 – October 4, 2020, with a national sample of 1,334 Jews over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

Past AJC surveys of American Jewish opinion: 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

1. If the presidential election were held today, for whom would you most likely vote?

Joe Biden 75%
Donald Trump 22%
Someone else 2%
Will not vote 1%
No opinion 2%

AJC’s 2016 Survey of American Jewish Opinion found that American Jews were most likely to vote for Hilary Clinton (61%), followed by Donald Trump (19%), Gary Johnson (6%), and Jill Stein (3%). Click here to view the AJC 2016 Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

 

2.  Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is doing his job as president?

Approve strongly 15%
Approve somewhat 7%
Disapprove somewhat 4%
Disapprove strongly 73%

AJC’s 2019 Survey of American Jewish Opinion found that 26% of American Jews had a favorable impression of the job President Trump is doing and 71% had an unfavorable impression. Click here to view the AJC 2019 Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

 

3. Which of the following is the most important issue for you in deciding how you will vote in the 2020 presidential election?

The COVID-19 pandemic 26%
Health care 17%
The economy 13%
Race relations 12%
Crime 6%
Foreign Policy 5%
Or some other issue 20%

AJC’s 2016 Survey of American Jewish Opinion found that American Jews considered the economy (29%), terrorism and national security (16%), an issue not named (12%), and foreign policy (10%) as the most important issues. Click here to view the AJC 2016 Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

 

4. Which of the following is the second most important issue for you in deciding how you will vote in the 2020 Presidential Election?

Health care 20%
The COVID-19 pandemic 18%
Race relations 17%
The economy 16%
Foreign Policy 11%
Crime 5%
Or some other issue 12%

 

5. Which of the two major party candidates for president would be better at combating terrorism?

Donald Trump 26%
Joe Biden 71%
Neither/Don't Know 3%

 

6. Which of the two major party candidates for president would be better at uniting the country?

Donald Trump 15%
Joe Biden 79%
Neither/Don't Know 6%

 

7. Which of the two major party candidates for president would be better at strengthening U.S.-Israel relations?

Donald Trump 42%
Joe Biden 54%
Neither/Don't Know 4%

 

8. Which of the two major party candidates for president would be better at dealing effectively with Iran?

Donald Trump 27%
Joe Biden 71%
Neither/Don't Know 3%

 

9. Which of the two major party candidates for president would be better at handling the COVID-19 pandemic?

Donald Trump 19%
Joe Biden 78%
Neither/Don't Know 3%

 

10. Which of the two major party candidates for president would be better at combating antisemitism in the U.S.?

Donald Trump 22%
Joe Biden 75%
Neither/Don't Know 3%

 

11. Which of the two major party candidates for president would be better at handling crime?

Donald Trump 24%
Joe Biden 72%
Neither/Don't Know 4%

 

12. In the presidential election of 2016, for whom did you vote?

Hillary Clinton 62%
Donald Trump 16%
Another candidate 7%
Did not vote 14%

AJC’s 2016 Survey of American Jewish Opinion found that American Jews were most likely to vote for Hilary Clinton (61%), followed by Donald Trump (19%), Gary Johnson (6%), and Jill Stein (3%). Click here to view the AJC 2016 Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

 

13. How important is being connected with Israel to your Jewish identity?

Very important 29%
Somewhat important 30%
Not too important 24%
Not at all important 17%

In AJC’s 2019 Survey of American Jewish Opinion, 62% of respondents agreed that “Caring about Israel is a very important part of my being a Jew” while 35% disagreed and 2% had no opinion. Click here to view the AJC 2019 Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

 

14.  How would you characterize the U.S.-Israel relationship today?

Very strong 33%
Fairly strong 53%
Fairly weak 9%
Very weak 3%
No opinion 2%

 

15. Compared to one year ago, how do you feel about the prospects for peace between Israel and the Arab world?

More optimistic 37%
Less optimistic 13%
Hasn’t been much change 49%
Don’t Know/Refused 1%

 

16. Compared to one year ago, how do you feel about the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians?

More optimistic 16%
Less optimistic 28%
Hasn’t been much change 55%
Don’t Know/Refused 1%

 

17. In politics today, do you consider yourself…

Republican 14%
Democrat 53%
Independent 25%
Other 8%

AJC’s 2019 Survey of American Jewish Opinion found that 49% of American Jews consider themselves to be Democrats, 20% consider themselves to be independents, 19% Republicans, and 12% other. Click here to view the AJC 2019 Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

 

18. Where would you place yourself on this scale?

Liberal 39%
Lean Liberal 18%
Moderate, Middle of the Road 25%
Lean Conservative 7%
Conservative 10%

 

19. How important is being Jewish in your life?

Very important 39%
Somewhat important 41%
Not too important 16%
Not at all important 5%

In AJC’s 2019 Survey of American Jewish Opinion, 41% of American Jews said “very important.” “somewhat important” received 35%, “not too important” received 17%, and “not at all important” received 7%.  Click here to view the AJC 2019 Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

 

20. Do you identify as…?

Orthodox 9%
Conservative 12%
Reform 27%
Reconstructionist 4%
Secular 43%
Don’t Know/Refused 5%

 

21. What is your current marital status?

Unmarried 47%
Married to a born Jew 25%
Married to a convert to Judaism 3%
Married to a non-Jew 25%

 

22. Are you registered to vote at your present address, or not?

Yes 94%
No 6%