Fewer than one in three Jewish voters in New York City believe Mayor Zoran Mamdani is performing well. A recent poll indicates that many connect the increase in anti-Semitism in the city to Mamdani and his supporters, who they feel are popularizing anti-Zionism.
The survey reveals that 40% of Jewish voters from last year’s mayoral election rated Mamdani’s performance as “poor.” In contrast, 32% felt he was doing either “excellent” or “good,” while 18% rated him as “fair,” leaving a small number undecided.
Additionally, 82% of Jewish voters—many of whom had backed Mamdani—expressed significant concern about the rise in anti-Semitism. A notable 73% attributed this rise to Mamdani and other prominent figures normalizing anti-Zionism, which they believe has made such views more acceptable.
Jonathan Schulman, the Executive Director of Jewish Majority, reflected on the findings, stating, “This confirms what many in the Jewish community have felt: anti-Semitism is indeed escalating. It highlights how strongly people connect it to the acceptance of anti-Zionism.” He called it a pivotal moment for awareness.
From January to March this year, there were 143 reported hate crimes in New York City, marking an 11.7% increase compared to the same time last year. Of these incidents, 55% targeted Jews, including various violent acts and graffiti.
The poll, conducted from February 17 to 28, included 665 Jewish voters from various political backgrounds, encompassing 174 individuals who supported Mamdani. The results further showed that 61% believe Mamdani’s reluctance to denounce the phrase “globalizing the intifada” has encouraged pro-Hamas demonstrations. Conversely, 19% disagreed with this sentiment.
- 84% of the Jewish voters who supported Mamdani favor a two-state solution related to Gaza, in hopes of resolving the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mamdani, however, has avoided directly addressing this issue, going as far as to assert that he does not believe Israel should exist as a Jewish state.
- Moreover, 84% also back a City Council bill from March that permits the NYPD to create buffer zones around synagogues and other worship sites. This bill was defended by City Council President Julie Menin after anti-Israel protests targeted a local synagogue, despite opposition from Mamdani and fellow socialists.
According to exit polling, Mamdani captured merely 31% of the Jewish vote during November’s general election, although he did garner significant support from younger Jewish voters aged 18 to 29, reaching 44% among that group.
The mayor has shown support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel, has accused Israelis of committing genocide in Gaza, and maintains connections with several left-wing figures known for their criticisms of Israel.
Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaj, has faced scrutiny due to past social media posts that praised Palestinian militants’ actions and described an alleged rape of an Israeli during the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack as a “mass hoax.”
Schulman noted how unusual it is that such a large portion of New York’s Jewish population did not back a Democratic candidate. He remarked that despite Mamdani’s assertion of being the mayor for everyone, it appears that Jewish New Yorkers feel unconvinced.
Phyllisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Anti-Semitism, defended Mamdani’s record with the Jewish community, claiming he has made efforts to connect and engage with diverse Jewish voices and address concerns about rising anti-Semitism through initiatives like the first municipal-level plan to tackle the issue.
