Joe Kaufman wins Boca Raton straw poll after debate

Republican congressional candidate Joe Kaufman won a post-debate straw poll Tuesday in Boca Raton after a forum with primary rival Scott Singer. Kaufman used the event to stress national security, support for Israel and a promise to protect Social Security and Medicare for District 25 seniors.

Why it matters: - The straw poll gave Joe Kaufman an early post-debate boost in Florida’s 25th Congressional District primary. - The result suggests Kaufman’s message resonated with the largely Jewish senior audience at Temple Beth Shalom in Boca Raton’s Century Village. - The campaign framed the event around the issues likely to matter most in the race: national security, antisemitism, Israel and senior benefits.

What happened: - Joe Kaufman won a post-debate straw poll Tuesday after a candidate forum against Republican primary opponent Scott Singer. - The event took place at Temple Beth Shalom in Boca Raton’s Century Village. - The crowd was made up primarily of Jewish seniors. - Attendees voted in a straw poll that included all Republican candidates in the race. - Kaufman finished first and received nearly three times as many votes as the second-place finisher.

The details: - Kaufman emphasized his background in national security and counterterrorism during the debate. - Kaufman said antisemitism and support for Israel have been defining parts of his life. - Kaufman highlighted his role in helping stop a pro-Hamas conference planned in Coral Springs. - Kaufman said the conference organizers, including CAIR, sued him multiple times in federal court over his efforts, and Kaufman prevailed in each case. - Kaufman described two decades of work with the Iranian opposition. - Kaufman said he co-founded an opposition group with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. - Kaufman said he brought together the Israeli government and the Iranian opposition after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks against Israel. - Kaufman criticized Singer by saying others have praised or honored radical mosques and their leaders, while Kaufman has focused on exposing and shutting down extremist organizations. - Kaufman tied his senior-focused message to his family experience. - Kaufman said he was raised by his grandparents and later moved to South Florida to care for his grandmother during her battle with COPD, a respiratory disease. - Kaufman said he will fight for Social Security and Medicare for District 25 seniors. - Kaufman said his care for his grandmother informs how he would serve seniors in Congress. - Kaufman’s campaign listed endorsements from former Israeli military intelligence officer Mordechai Kedar, former IDF Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser, former Trump administration Border Czar Tom Homan, former Venezuelan political prisoners Iván Simonovis and Antonio Ledezma, and Cuban-American Ambassador Dr. Luis Suárez Hernández.

Between the lines: - The crowd and issues on display point to a district audience where Israel, antisemitism and senior benefits are politically central. - Kaufman’s repeated emphasis on lawsuits, extremist groups and counterterrorism signals a campaign built around conflict and security credentials. - The endorsement list is meant to reinforce Kaufman’s national-security profile and appeal to pro-Israel and anti-authoritarian voters.

What’s next: - Kaufman and Singer are likely to keep sharpening their contrast as the Florida District 25 Republican primary continues. - Senior benefits, Israel policy and public safety are likely to remain core messages in Kaufman’s campaign. - The straw poll gives Kaufman a talking point, but the primary result will be decided in the actual vote.