Republican Jewish Coalition

The organization grew influence during the George W. Bush administration. ²

Background

The Republican Jewish Coalition was established in 1985 during the Reagan administration when senior Jewish leaders tried to reach out to Republican Party officials, decision-makers, and opinion leaders. It was originally known as the “National Jewish Coalition.” ²

The RJC has regional offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California. ³ The RJC has a Young Leadership program and a National Women’s Committee. ³ The national Jewish vote for Republican presidential candidates has averaged only about 25 percent since in 1968. However, certain subpopulations of Jewish Americans have supported Republicans, notably including Orthodox, Persian, and Russian Jewish communities. The RJC says it anticipates more GOP support among younger Jews, many who experienced antisemitism from left-wing activists on college campuses. ⁴

In 2005, the Republican Jewish Coalition began working more closely with the George W. Bush administration and Congressional Republicans through its legislative affairs committee. ⁴ In September 2005, then-President George W. Bush spoke at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s 20^th anniversary luncheon that honored Bernard Marcus, a founder of Home Depot; Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas casino magnate; and Ken Mehlman, then-chairman of the Republican National Committee. ⁴

The RJC has a sister nonprofit educational organization called the Jewish Policy Center.  ⁴

On election night in 2024, more than 30 minutes before Donald Trump delivered his victory speech, Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks and national chairman Norm Coleman issued a statement that noted unprecedented paid media campaign, as well as thousands of volunteers on the ground in key Jewish communities for the Trump candidacy.  The joint statement said, “the Jewish vote matters, and it played a major role in delivering the presidency for President Trump.” ⁵

Political Advocacy

The Republican Jewish Coalition supports a pro-Israel foreign policy; a low tax, free enterprise, competitive economic system; and reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and calls for America to lead the world in standing for the cause of freedom and democracy. The group takes few positions on social issues.  ⁴

The RJC supported the second Trump administration’s opposition to antisemitism on college campuses, with the threat of withhold federal funding. RJC CEO Matt Brooks said: “We have to combat antisemitism as vigorously as we can.” He added under President Trump there is “a new sheriff in town.” ⁶

The Republican Jewish Coalition Political Action Committee funds political candidates and activities across the country. ³

The group advocated for the successful passage of the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act, which created the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism at the State Department; the Taylor Force Act, which requires the Palestinian Authority to end subsidies to terrorist murderers dubbed “pay for slay”; and the Never Again Education Act, a Holocaust education bill. ⁷

In the 2024 election cycle, the Republican Jewish Coalition Political Action Committee spent $4.25 million on campaigns and lobbying. This included spending $1.7 million the Make America Great Again Inc. political committee supporting the campaign of President Donald Trump; $1 million on the Keystone Renewal PAC; $95,885 toward the election of Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA); and $81,157 toward the re-election of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). The group provided $47,180 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. ⁸

Leadership

As of 2025, Matthew Brooks was the CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition. He previously managed the 1988 Jack Kemp for President campaign in Massachusetts. He also directed projects in New Hampshire and New England for Kemp. He became the political director of the Republican Jewish Coalition in 1988. While taking a leave of absence from the RJC, he worked as the national field director for the Victory ‘88 Jewish Campaign Committee, designing and implementing campaign strategy on behalf of the 1988 presidential campaign of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush and his running mate, Dan Quayle. In 1990, he became the executive director of the RJC. He was selected in 2006 and 2008 by the Forward as one of the 50 most influential Jews in America. ⁹

As of 2025, Norm Coleman was the national chairman of the board of directors for the Republican Jewish Coalition. Coleman is a former U.S. Senator from Minnesota, from 2003 through 2009. Before that, he was mayor of St. Paul from 1993 to 1988.  ⁹

As of 2025, Jeffrey Altman was the general counsel for the Republican Jewish Coalition. Altman was also a partner in Whiteford Taylor Preston LLP’s Washington, D.C. office, where he specialized in representing trade associations, foundations, professional membership societies, and other nonprofit organizations. He was the head of the firm’s Political Law Compliance practice group as well. ⁹