The Democrats Score High in Tel Aviv but Struggle in Periphery and Arab Towns
Yair Golan's The Democrats party secured impressive results in Tel Aviv and central Israel but failed to cross the electoral threshold in numerous peripheral towns and Arab localities.
The Democrats party, led by Yair Golan, has demonstrated significant electoral strength in Tel Aviv and central Israel, yet faces a severe lack of support across peripheral towns and Arab localities. According to municipal voting data, 18% of the party's total votes originated in Tel Aviv, where it secured 21.3% of the valid ballots—a performance that would translate to 30 mandates if the election were held solely in the city.
Strongholds in the Center and Weakness in the Periphery
Beyond Tel Aviv, the party performed strongly in central districts, capturing 19.4% in Givatayim, 17.7% in Ramat HaSharon, 14% in Hod HaSharon, and 12.8% in Ramat Gan. In Haifa, it received 10.4%, while in Jerusalem support stood at 5.3%. The absolute highest percentage nationwide was recorded in Kibbutz Pelech within the Misgav Regional Council, where 80.8% of voters backed the party.
Conversely, the party failed to cross the electoral threshold in numerous peripheral cities in both the north and the south. In towns such as Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, Acre, Tiberias, Safed, Afula, Sderot, Beersheba, Ofakim, Netivot, Arad, Dimona, and Eilat, support remained extremely low. Single-digit percentages were recorded across the board, with figures dropping to 0.4% in Beit Shemesh, 0.5% in Kiryat Malachi and Netivot, and 0.6% in Ofakim.
Disappointment in Arab Localities
The party also struggled to attract voters in Arab towns, falling short of expectations despite prior remarks from party members anticipating tens of thousands of Arab votes. While Arab lists secured a combined 19 mandates in the Knesset, support for The Democrats remained minimal, with only 416 votes in Sakhnin (1.9%), 3.12% in Nazareth, and 0.53% in Rahat.
