Sarsour Celebrates Mamdani’s Victory
This week, radical pro-Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour claimed that Zoran Mamdani’s win on Election Day illustrates that a strong anti-Israel stance can appeal to voters in New York City.
“We stand in clear solidarity with the Palestinian people, who can face what is happening in Palestine and call it genocide, and support non-violence and resistance to apartheid,” she shared during a webinar hosted by her organization, MPower Change. “These movements aren’t merely political responsibilities,” she added.
Sarsour emphasized that now is the moment to build upon this momentum, suggesting there’s no need to pause. This event, titled “Zoran’s Victory and its Impact on the Progressive Movement,” served as a platform for her message.
“My hope is that candidates nationwide running for local, state, and federal positions in 2026 will reflect on what transpired in New York City,” Sarsour stated. She encouraged them to “be courageous” and stand firm in their convictions, believing it could inspire others to run for office as well.
“I feel fired up!” she exclaimed, reinforcing her commitment to the anti-Israel momentum. “Now it’s time to ask, ‘Where do we go in 2026? How do we build on this momentum?'”
City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) responded critically, insisting that hate should not prevail in Gotham. With Mamdani narrowly securing 50% of the vote, she contended that his win doesn’t represent a convincing endorsement of his views. “The reality is that a comparable number of voters supported Mamdani and opposed his policies, and 6 million New Yorkers didn’t even vote,” she claimed.
She added that voters were more attracted to Mamdani’s focus on affordability issues rather than his controversial proposals. “Leftists who think that advocating for a ‘globalized intifada’ is the path to victory will likely struggle in upcoming elections,” she cautioned.
Former City Council member Rory Lancman (D-Queens) partially agreed with Sarsour’s perspective. He noted, “Anti-Semitism has often been a tool for demagogues. Her assertion that Mamdani’s pronounced disdain for Israel assisted his election victory has merit.”
Yet, he expressed skepticism about the long-term effectiveness of such views, particularly in light of recent events shifting public sentiment. “Zoran’s specific brand of anti-Israel sentiment is likely to be effective only in limited locales.”
Sarsour’s animosity toward Israel isn’t new; it predates the recent escalation in Gaza. Back in 2018, she urged fellow Muslims not to “humanize” Israelis, labeling them as “oppressors.”
Once a leader of the Women’s March on Washington, Sarsour and others were expelled for their controversial ties. Her network includes speakers such as Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, and Jeff Simpson, campaign manager for Justice Democrats.
Mitchell described how the coalition-building efforts in New York’s ranked-choice voting system were crucial for Mamdani’s win over Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. However, he expressed skepticism about extending ranked-choice voting to general elections, noting it could have aided Cuomo’s campaign.
He remains optimistic about the Working Families Party’s influence as they prepare for the 2026 midterms, advocating for a vision that moves beyond traditional party lines. “We need to think beyond the Democratic Party due to brand damage, which is precisely why we’re focusing our efforts on the Working Families Party,” he stated.
