Jewish election results

NATIONAL

1) All incumbent Jewish U.S. senators and congressmen won reelection, including all 6 freshmen congressmen.

2) There remains 13 Jewish US Senators (even if Minnesota’s results are reversed). As it happens, the only two senators who are neither Republican nor Democratic are Jews: Independent Joe Lieberman and Socialist Bernie Sanders.

A) Jewish congressmen increased 3 from 29 to 32 (Adler of NJ, Grayson of Fla and Polis of CO).

B) Some Jewish congressional candidates did lose, including those in Alaska, Wyoming, and Alabama as well as a rabbi in NJ, a Chinese Jew in CO (Hank Eng), and a Jewish Latina in Fla (Annette Taddeo).

C) Eric Canter remains the only Jewish Republican in House, and is expected to become an even more senior leader in that caucus.

3) Jewish governors increased from 2 (Ed Rendell of PA and Linda Lingle of HI, who weren’t up for reelection) to 3 as Jack Markell of DE won.

ILLINOIS

1) All Illinois Jewish incumbents were up for re-election and won:

A) Jan Schakowsky and Rahm Emanuel in House. Challenger Steve Greenberg lost to Melissa Bean.

B) Both Jewish state senators (Jeff Schoenberg and Ira Silverstein) won.

C) All 6 state representatives won: Sara Feigenholtz, Jack Franks, Julie Hamos, Lou Lang, Sid Mathias and Karen May. Jewish challenger Daniel Biss lost by four points to Beth Coulson.

2) Illinois general results:

A) Congress: All incumbents won, including, despite huge Obama and Durbin margins, even all Republicans: Biggert, Johnson, Kirk, Manzullo, Roskam, Shimkus. Suggesting that when it comes to congress, even in this special year in this state, incumbency trumps coattails.

B) The parties split the two open, contested congressional seats: Dem Debbie Halverson replaces Republican Jerry Weller and Republican Aaron Schock replaces Republican Ray LaHood. (JUF/JF has worked in Springfield with both new congressmen as well as meeting them as candidates here at JUF HQs.)

C) Illinois has two open seats: Senator Obama’s (to be filled by a gubernatorial appointment) and Rahm Emanuel’s (to be decided by a special election). There could be a third open seat if the governor appoints an incumbent congressman to Obama’s senate seat.

Jay Tcath, November 10, 2008