From party punchline to primary winner: Eli Cohen’s ground game pays off with Likud’s top spot

Energy Minister Eli Cohen secured the top spot in the Likud primary with 46,224 votes, surpassing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana by over 3,000 votes. Cohen's victory, a significant improvement from his second-place finish in the previous primary, is attributed to years of extensive grassroots engagement within the party, including attending numerous local and activist-hosted events. This ground game, combined with frequent media appearances, allowed him to garner support from both organized blocs and unaffiliated primary voters. His success is seen as strengthening his claim to a senior ministerial portfolio in any future government formed by Benjamin Netanyahu, who may find it challenging to overlook Cohen's strong mandate.