A Republican take: Democrats are dodging a real problem with antisemitism, and Ro Khanna’s refusal to answer is a perfect example of that avoidance.

There’s a growing unease among voters about the party that claims to champion inclusion, and it centers on antisemitism. Recent polling showed Democratic voters open to radical nominees and candidates willing to defund Israel, and commentators haven’t been shy about pointing out what that signals about the party’s direction. “So Democrats want socialists who hate the Jews, is how I’m reading this.” That blunt line summed up a lot of people’s frustration.

Party insiders quietly shrugged when Jewish candidates with ties to Israel were passed over for major roles, signaling a troubling preference in some circles. The 2024 running mate discussion famously moved past Josh Shapiro in part because of how he “read” as Jewish, and a CNN commentator suggested voters might favor Jon Ossoff because he “may not read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro does.” That kind of calculus is ugly and telling.

Across the country, candidates nervously try to show they care about Jewish voters only when it’s politically convenient, and you can see the pattern. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed went out of his way to say he respected Judaism and Jews, clearly trying to calm nerves. Ro Khanna backed El-Sayed and when asked to confront the larger issue, he chose to dodge rather than answer directly.

When Shannon Bream pressed him directly, her question was plain and urgent: “Your party is grappling with accusations of antisemitism from statements, from candidates,” said host Shannon Bream. “What is your message to American Jewish voters about what they can expect from your party?”

Khanna didn’t address the concerns on their merits. “I’ll tell you why Abdul is winning: he’s winning because he’s for free healthcare for Americans, and healthcare for all,” replied Khanna. “He’s winning because he doesn’t believe in money in politics, and these super PACs that are spending millions of dollars. And he’s winning because he thinks that billionaires in places like in my district should be paying fair tax, just like teachers and nurses pay.” He answered everything but the question, pivoting to policy talking points instead of acknowledging the hatred problem.

That dodge leaves Jewish voters with a blunt reality: they can expect nothing reliable from a party that won’t confront its own extremists. When leadership and spokespeople avoid acknowledging the problem, it becomes easier for bad actors and radical factions to flourish without consequence.

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Worse still, exclusion has moved from rhetoric to real-world consequence, with qualified Jewish professionals overlooked for civic roles in places like New York. Jewish lawyers reportedly found themselves passed over for positions on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Judicial Appointments committee, an alarming sign that identity and politics are shaping appointments.

The pattern spills into policy, where hostility or indifference can translate into unequal treatment. Critics note Democrats have a record of wanting to deny certain types of care or protections to political opponents, and many recall how the unvaccinated were stigmatized during COVID. Those moments feed a narrative that civic equality is conditional.

When politicians dodge and the party’s factions squabble, the result is hollow assurances that please no one. “Nope. Neither do we.” captures the growing distrust among voters who feel sidelined and unheard.

Instead of straight answers, you get deflection after deflection. “All deflection.” is what many observers see when the party is challenged about antisemitism rather than fixing it.

The rise of radical elements—broadly described by critics as Islamist commies streaming into influence inside the Democratic coalition—has real consequences for Jewish communities. The concern is not theoretical; it’s a political reality that many voters can point to in primaries and local races. “The Islamist commies taking over the Democratic Party are very antisemitic.”

Given all this, it’s understandable why Jewish voters are reassessing where their interests are safest and best defended. How any Jewish voter can continue to trust a party that punts on these issues is a question many are asking right now.

Khanna’s calculus seems focused on power and winning, not on confronting the ugly trends within his coalition. That indifference matters, because when leaders avoid naming problems, those problems grow.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

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