Active Jewish Community Helps Shape Nevada’s Politics
Nevada’s Jewish population, estimated at about 2% of the state’s total, or approximately 85K individuals, plays a significant role in the state’s closely contested elections. Known nationally for consistently high voter turnout of around 85%, and active civic engagement, the Jewish community is an influential group in Nevada’s swing-state politics.
Nevada’s Jewish voters lean Democratic but wield influence across party lines. In the 2020 presidential election, an estimated 41K Jewish Nevadans voted, with 75% supporting former Vice President Biden (D) over then-President Trump (R). The race was decided by a margin of 33K votes, highlighting the influence of this highly active voting group. In the 2022 Nevada U.S. Senate election, incumbent Senator Cortez Masto (D) narrowly defeated Nevada’s Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R) by approximately 7,500 votes. Exit polling indicates the vast majority of Nevada’s Jewish voters picked Senator Cortez Masto (D).
In the 2024 presidential election, exit polls indicate that President Trump (R) received approximately 30% of Nevada's Jewish vote, an increase from about 25% in 2020, while Vice President Kamala Harris (D) garnered around 70%. This represents a 5% swing toward the Republican candidate from 2020 to 2024. In the concurrent U.S. Senate race, incumbent Senator Jacky Rosen (D), who is Jewish and has been a strong advocate for U.S.-Israel relations as well as efforts to combat antisemitism through initiatives like the bipartisan Senate Task Force on the issue, likely received about 80% of the Jewish vote, translating to approximately 35K votes. Rosen's narrow reelection victory, by a margin of about 21K votes, contrasted with Trump's statewide success and was supported by her effective outreach to Jewish communities in areas such as Las Vegas and Reno.
A coalition of influential organizations significantly shapes Nevada's Jewish community's political engagement, promoting bipartisan dialogue and advocacy on key issues like combating antisemitism, encouraging civic participation, and strengthening U.S.-Israel relations. Collectively, these groups amplify the Jewish electorate’s influence in Nevada’s closely contested elections. They include but are not limited to the following:
As the state's primary Jewish federation, Jewish Nevada coordinates fundraising, community services, and policy initiatives to build a vibrant Jewish life across Nevada. In 2021, it co-launched the Nevada Against Antisemitism coalition, the largest such effort in state history that united Jewish and non-Jewish partners, including religious leaders, nonprofits, and elected officials, to educate on antisemitism, condemn hate acts, advocate for policy solutions, and push for federal funding to address bigotry.
The Republican Jewish Coalition is a nonprofit that fosters ties between American Jews and the Republican Party. It promotes bipartisan dialogue on issues like Israel support, antisemitism, and domestic policies through grassroots outreach, lobbying, and events like the Las Vegas Leadership Summit, which features the nations top political figures.
Nevada’s Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Chapter advances policies to track and prevent hate crimes, enhance campus safety through annual audits and training, and foster inclusive environments amid rising incidents. ADL Nevada engages in state legislative politics by advocating for policies to combat antisemitism and collaborating with coalitions like Nevada Against Antisemitism to push for stronger hate crime laws and inclusivity measures. It also supports lawmakers with educational resources and training to shape legislation on school safety and religious discrimination.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee influences Nevada politics through its Las Vegas chapter by mobilizing the Jewish community, funding pro-Israel candidates like Sen. Rosen (D) with significant campaign contributions, and advocating for strong U.S.-Israel policies. Its efforts include grassroots outreach, policy forums, and partnerships with groups like the Israeli American Council to boost voter turnout and shape legislation.
The Israeli American Council Las Vegas Chapter engages Israeli expatriates through events and outreach to preserve cultural identity and drive voter turnout, amplifying the community's voice in Nevada's tight electoral contests.
Lastly, Some of Nevada’s Jewish temples, congregations, rabbis, and community leaders engage in political efforts, such as voter registration drives and coalitions to combat antisemitism, and occasionally provide testimony in support of or opposition to state legislation. For example, Rabbis with the Congregation Ner Tamid advocated for legislation to exempt absences for religious observances from school penalties.
Among Nevada’s most prominent Jewish political figures, Dr. Miriam Adelson, a Las Vegas billionaire, stands out as the most influential, committing $100 million to President Trump’s 2024 campaign to bolster Israel’s security and fight antisemitism. Her influence is amplified through the Republican Jewish Coalition’s multimillion-dollar efforts to mobilize Jewish voters for Republican candidates. At a Washington, D.C., event, Adelson described supporting Trump as a “sacred duty” for Jewish voters, pointing to his pro-Israel record, including the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. Speaking at the same event, Trump emphasized the Jewish vote’s potential to tip tight races, noting that Nevada’s Jewish population surpasses Biden’s 2020 victory margin in the state.
Among currently serving Jewish elected officials, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D), a former synagogue president, and Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley (D), a former U.S. Representative, actively support initiatives to combat antisemitism and promote strong U.S.-Israel relations. In the Nevada State Legislature, Assemblymembers Dr. Rebecca Edgeworth (R) and Danielle Gallant (R), both Jewish, advocate for Jewish community priorities and related issues.
Nevada’s Jewish community includes many more groups, elected officials, and leaders, with those mentioned in this article providing a broad overview of an active and influential community spanning both Democratic and Republican parties in local, state, and congressional roles. Despite occasional partisan differences, the community helps shape Nevada’s legislative policy and election outcomes through strong engagement, strategic coordination, and prominent leadership.
