NJDC: Let’s focus on the federal election

The National Jewish Democratic Council focused on the House race in New York in its statement on Tuesday’s elections.

"We were deeply gratified last night to see that wherever federal issues came into play, Democratic candidates were victorious," said NJDC CEO Ira Forman. "A Republican Party that continues to move far to the right – resulting in defeated candidates like the Conservative Party’s Doug Hoffman – will continue to alienate Jewish voters in the future."

The group also said it was disappointed by the results in Virginia and New Jersey. The full statement is after the jump:[[READMORE]]

Ira N. Forman, CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement:

We were deeply gratified last night to see that wherever federal issues came into play, Democratic candidates were victorious. Particularly in Bill Owens’s important win in New York’s 23rd Congressional district, we saw the results of a deeply divided GOP. A Republican Party that continues to move far to the right – resulting in defeated candidates like the Conservative Party’s Doug Hoffman – will continue to alienate Jewish voters in the future.

But we were also of course disappointed to see the statewide results in Virginia and New Jersey. In both Virginia and New Jersey, the selection of strong Jewish women running for statewide office was historic. Jody Wagner – a former Vice President of United Jewish Federation and President of Jewish Family Services of Tidewater who became the Commonwealth’s Treasurer and Secretary of Finance – ran a strong and inspirational campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. And State Senator Loretta Weinberg was so much more than a “feisty grandmother” as she became a voice for Jewish values and economic development in her race for Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey. The Jewish community could not have asked for a stronger friend and supporter in New Jersey than Governor Jon Corzine. In Virginia, Creigh Deeds was eloquent in recognizing the importance of broadening the Commonwealth’s connection with Israel.

For NJDC, this was an election that truly energized our membership and activists around the country, but particularly in Virginia and New Jersey.  NJDC launched critical new pilot programs, including the training of Jewish community campaign liaisons. Our field organizers did a remarkable job organizing community events, phone banking and canvassing of Jewish homes – which will pay key dividends as we look to the future. We look forward to continuing and building these programs in 2010.