Candidate Statements for Democrats Abroad Israel Executive Committee Elections 2025
The 2025-27 Executive Committee will be elected at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 2, 2025. Voting will be conducted electronically either during early voting period or in real-time during the AGM. RSVP for the online meeting.
Nominations were submitted for the following positions by the close of the nominations period on February 13, 2025. Read the candidate statements below.
- Chair – Nomination submitted
- Vice-Chair – Nomination submitted
- At-Large-Member – Nomination submitted
- At-Large-Member – Nomination submitted
No nominations were submitted for the following positions. Nominations will be accepted during the online meeting and voted on in real-time by members in attendance at the online call on March 2, 2025.
- Vice Chair for Membership (Secretary)
- Vice Chair for Finance (Treasurer)
- Vice Chair for Legal Counsel
- Vice Chair for Social Media
- Vice Chair for Media Relations and Policy
- Vice Chair for Get Out the Vote (GOTV)
- Vice Chair for Fundraising
- At-Large-Member
A description of each office's responsibilities can be found here. A copy of DA Israel’s Bylaws can be found here. A copy of the Election Rules can be found here.
Members of DA Israel may vote the online ballot at: https://forms.gle/ib8WMGS8oP1ZifXK6
DA Israel 2025-27 Executive Committee Candidate Statements
Joe Meidan - Nominee for Chair: Former Mossad senior functionary and a businessman. Fields of activity: Aviation: Founder and first CEO - Arkia Charter. Some other projects outside Israel: Founder and president of an IVF clinic in the Dominican Republic run by Israeli physicians and embryologists. Studied Jewish Philosophy for Masters degree at Schechter institute - Jerusalem. (Have not finished my studies).
Chaya Houpt - Nominee for Vice Chair: My name is Chaya Houpt, and I am a writer, mother of five, and a proud New Jersey voter residing in Jerusalem. I began volunteering with Democrats Abroad during the 2024 election, and I’m deeply proud of our efforts. Now, I’m eager to help relaunch and revitalize our country committee as we build a strong foundation for the midterms.
As Vice Chair, I will prioritize voter outreach and education, with the goal of helping American citizens in Israel to be better informed, motivated, and empowered to vote. I am particularly passionate about fostering closer relationships with the American Embassy in Jerusalem, to enhance voting awareness, improve communication, and address the unique challenges faced by our voters.
Together, I believe we can build a more engaged, informed, and active community of Democrats in Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Stuart Margolis - Nominee for At-Large-Member: I am a lifelong Democrat (my grandmother had pictures of FDR and JFK next to the pictures of her parents and grandparents on the walls of her apartment) who wants to contribute to the needs and rights of Americans who live in Israel. Given the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in I have a great need to be active rather than sitting on my Lazy Boy and complaining. Activism in Democratic Politics is part of my family modus operandi. My daughter, Leah Kuester is the Chair of the Democratic Party in Sarpy County, Nebraska and worked hard to get the Blue Dot in neighboring Douglas County and elected a State Senator by 100 votes in a highly Red District. So I’d like her to be proud of her Dad…
Zvi Grauer - Nominee for At-Large-Member: I've been volunteering for Democratic candidates since the days of Bill Clinton, active also in Israel. I have participated in GOTV activities - phone banks, text banks, canvassing over the years. Most recently, I helped Americans abroad registering to vote and voting as part of DA, and became a certified FVAP Voting Assistance Officer.