In what may herald a broader transformation within the Democratic Party—a shift that could raise concern in Israel—Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has won the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. The primary winner now has strong odds of winning the general election, scheduled for November. Mamdani will run against Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa—widely seen as having little chance of victory—and the incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who has been embroiled in major corruption scandals and received a pardon from former President Donald Trump.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim, represents the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. He is backed by Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)—both vocal and consistent critics of Israel—and by the anti-Zionist organization Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). In the primary, Mamdani defeated centrist candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who enjoyed broad support from the Democratic establishment, including former President Bill Clinton, as well as from Jewish communities and pro-Israel organizations. Mamdani also secured the endorsement of Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller and a liberal Zionist. Lander’s endorsement proved critical due to New York’s ranked-choice voting system and in light of allegations that Mamdani held antisemitic views.
As noted, Mamdani belongs to the critical-progressive camp of the Democratic Party, which frequently challenges Israeli policy. He has expressed support for the BDS movement, promoted legislation to ban donations from New York to West Bank settlements and Israeli military units, defended the use of the slogan “Globalize the Intifada” by arguing that the term “intifada” does not necessarily imply violence, and declined to sign a Holocaust remembrance declaration, citing a blanket policy against such statements. Mamdani and his supporters have rejected the accusations of antisemitism, claiming that they stem from conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. They have also argued that the campaign against him is tainted by Islamophobia.
Several factors facilitated Mamdani’s victory. New York City, a liberal stronghold in a liberal state, held its election in a political climate shaped in part by backlash to Trump’s presidency. In addition, the Democratic establishment rallied behind a controversial candidate—Cuomo—who had resigned as governor in 2021 following multiple allegations of sexual harassment. Finally, after a string of mayors widely perceived as unsuccessful, many New Yorkers were drawn to Mamdani’s campaign, which centered on improving city services for residents.
Mamdani’s success may signal a concerning trend in American politics for Israel. While the current Democratic leadership still demonstrates a basic appreciation for Israel and a willingness to defend it from criticism—even when disagreeing with its policies—this generation generally sees support for Israel as compatible with support for Palestinians. Mamdani, however, whether he wins the mayoralty or not, represents a younger generation of candidates and voters who view Israel as a problematic, rogue actor and identify with the Palestinians as the side deserving support in a binary conflict.
This generational shift in the Democratic Party will not happen overnight, nor will it result in a wholesale replacement of party positions. Nonetheless, as public opinion surveys suggest, there has been a notable erosion of the pro-Israel consensus that once characterized the Democratic Party. This evolving dynamic is likely to present Israel with mounting challenges as it seeks to rally American support for its policies and strategic interests.
In what may herald a broader transformation within the Democratic Party—a shift that could raise concern in Israel—Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has won the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. The primary winner now has strong odds of winning the general election, scheduled for November. Mamdani will run against Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa—widely seen as having little chance of victory—and the incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who has been embroiled in major corruption scandals and received a pardon from former President Donald Trump.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim, represents the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. He is backed by Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)—both vocal and consistent critics of Israel—and by the anti-Zionist organization Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). In the primary, Mamdani defeated centrist candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who enjoyed broad support from the Democratic establishment, including former President Bill Clinton, as well as from Jewish communities and pro-Israel organizations. Mamdani also secured the endorsement of Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller and a liberal Zionist. Lander’s endorsement proved critical due to New York’s ranked-choice voting system and in light of allegations that Mamdani held antisemitic views.
As noted, Mamdani belongs to the critical-progressive camp of the Democratic Party, which frequently challenges Israeli policy. He has expressed support for the BDS movement, promoted legislation to ban donations from New York to West Bank settlements and Israeli military units, defended the use of the slogan “Globalize the Intifada” by arguing that the term “intifada” does not necessarily imply violence, and declined to sign a Holocaust remembrance declaration, citing a blanket policy against such statements. Mamdani and his supporters have rejected the accusations of antisemitism, claiming that they stem from conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. They have also argued that the campaign against him is tainted by Islamophobia.
Several factors facilitated Mamdani’s victory. New York City, a liberal stronghold in a liberal state, held its election in a political climate shaped in part by backlash to Trump’s presidency. In addition, the Democratic establishment rallied behind a controversial candidate—Cuomo—who had resigned as governor in 2021 following multiple allegations of sexual harassment. Finally, after a string of mayors widely perceived as unsuccessful, many New Yorkers were drawn to Mamdani’s campaign, which centered on improving city services for residents.
Mamdani’s success may signal a concerning trend in American politics for Israel. While the current Democratic leadership still demonstrates a basic appreciation for Israel and a willingness to defend it from criticism—even when disagreeing with its policies—this generation generally sees support for Israel as compatible with support for Palestinians. Mamdani, however, whether he wins the mayoralty or not, represents a younger generation of candidates and voters who view Israel as a problematic, rogue actor and identify with the Palestinians as the side deserving support in a binary conflict.
This generational shift in the Democratic Party will not happen overnight, nor will it result in a wholesale replacement of party positions. Nonetheless, as public opinion surveys suggest, there has been a notable erosion of the pro-Israel consensus that once characterized the Democratic Party. This evolving dynamic is likely to present Israel with mounting challenges as it seeks to rally American support for its policies and strategic interests.