Jewish Former Democratic lawmakers endorse Harris, touting her record on Israel, antisemitism

A group of 17 Jewish former Democratic lawmakers have signed a joint statement endorsing US Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of next month’s presidential election, touting her support for Israel and efforts to combat antisemitism.

The ex-members of Congress point to the rollout of the first-ever White House National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism which the Biden administration launched last year with the support of Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

“Only the Vice President has consistently condemned the white supremacists and bigots who target the Jewish community, rather than dining with some of them at Mar-a-Largo,” the former lawmakers write, referring to the 2022 dinner Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump hosted at his Florida golf resort for Kanye West and Nick Fuentes.

Touting what they say has been her career-long support for Israel, the 17 former lawmakers say “she has spoken clearly about the horrors and violence of October 7th and condemned in particular the sexual violence and brutality inflicted on innocent Israelis.”

“Throughout this war, Vice President Harris has made clear that Israel has a right to defend itself, has supported delivering essential security aid to our ally and pledged to continue these policies as President,” reads the statement organized by former House members Steve Israel and Nita Lowey.

Reps. Gary Ackerman, Barney Frank, Martin Frost, Paul Hodes, Elizabeth Holtzman, Ron Klein, Mel Levine, Marjorie Margolies, Richard Ottinger, Max Rose, Allyson Y. Schwartz, Larry Smith, Henry Waxman, Robert Wexler and John Yarmuth join Israel and Lowey in signing the statement.

“For the good of the American Jewish community, for the good of Israel, for the good of our great nation and for the good of the world, we must elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as the next President and Vice President of the United States,” they say.