Democrats in North Carolina are locked in a contentious internal battle after the state party passed a resolution condemning "Israel’s apartheid rule,” exposing a growing rift within the party in a key moderate swing state. The dispute reflects broader national tensions that could complicate Democratic efforts heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

The resolution, narrowly approved late last month, calls for an arms embargo on "Israel" and follows similar moves by Democratic parties in other states. It comes on the heels of Democratic voters in New York nominating a longtime "Israel" critic for mayor, and ahead of a competitive Senate primary in Michigan, where voter protests over US policy on "Israel" made headlines during the last presidential primary.

These flashpoints, in the South, Midwest, and liberal coastal cities, underscore a widening divide between the Democratic base and the party’s elected leadership. Many fear the intensifying debate over US policy toward "Israel" could derail the party’s focus on core domestic issues like the economy.

The North Carolina Democratic Party’s executive committee passed the controversial "Israel" resolution on June 28, the same weekend Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) broke with former President Donald Trump on a tax and immigration bill and announced he would not seek a third term. While Democrats saw Tillis’ retirement as a political opportunity, their focus was diverted by internal conflict over the resolution, limiting their ability to capitalize on the moment.

Polarization deepens amid shifting public opinion, party tensions

Trump, who has consistently offered staunch support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government, has inflamed partisan tensions on the issue, claiming that any Jewish American who votes for Democrats "hates their religion," and used a sweeping campaign against alleged antisemitism to justify crackdowns on university campuses and anti-Israeli genocide protests.

Divisions over "Israel" have already taken a toll on Democratic unity. Following "Israel’s" war on Gaza, protests erupted on college campuses nationwide, and activists were urged to register their discontent by casting protest ballots in the primaries. 

In Michigan’s presidential primary, over 100,000 Democrats, 13 percent of voters, chose “uncommitted” as a protest against President Joe Biden’s stance on "Israel". The discontent signaled broader dissatisfaction within the party, and President Donald Trump went on to win Michigan and every other key battleground state.

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Tensions over "Israel" within the Democratic Party have continued to flare. Controversy erupted last month when the party nominated Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim progressive, for mayor of New York. Mamdani declined to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” a phrase the pro-Palestine movement considers a cry for self-determination.

Middle East dilemma hits Republicans too

Republicans, too, have faced internal debate over US policy in the Middle East. The issue resurfaced after Trump authorized a bombing campaign in Iran last month, followed by a negotiated ceasefire between "Israel" and Iran. 

Public opinion in the US has shifted sharply against "Israel" in recent years, particularly among Democrats. A March poll by the Pew Research Center found that 53 percent of American adults held an unfavorable view of "Israel", up from 42 percent in 2022, before the current war began. The divide between parties was stark: 69 percent of Democrats viewed "Israel" unfavorably, compared to just 37% of Republicans.

A May survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs further highlighted the shift. Democrats gave "Israel" an average favorability rating of just 41 out of 100, the lowest in the survey’s 47-year history and a drop of 11 points since 2022. More than two-thirds of Democratic respondents said the US should remain neutral in the "Israel"-Palestine struggle, while 20% favored siding with the Palestinians and only 10 percent supported siding with "Israel".

Key races highlight Democratic divides

Reem Subei, leader of the Arab caucus in the North Carolina Democratic Party, said she supported the party’s resolution calling for an arms embargo on "Israel" both on moral grounds and as a strategic move to unite and attract voters who had previously disengaged from the party.

The resolution, which narrowly passed, demands a full embargo until human rights organizations certify that "Israel" is no longer practicing apartheid. Republicans have seized on the controversy, portraying it as evidence that Democrats are turning against a key US ally.

The dispute comes as North Carolina becomes a critical Senate battleground for Democrats in 2026, with former Rep. Wiley Nickel running and speculation about former Governor Roy Cooper’s potential candidacy.

In Michigan, four Democrats are competing for the nomination to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters. Among the candidates are Rep. Haley Stevens, a long-time supporter of "Israel", and Abdul el-Sayed, former health director of Wayne County, who has described "Israel’s" actions in Gaza as genocide.

Meanwhile, before the Senate primaries conclude, Zohran Mamdani will face voters in New York’s general mayoral election this fall. His candidacy will serve as a key test of how his views on "Israel" resonate in a predominantly Democratic city that hosts the largest Jewish population outside of "Israel."

Although Mamdani won the most primary votes in the city’s history, many party leaders withheld their support, with several moderate Democrats openly opposing his campaign.