The group that mobilized Jews to vote in large numbers to defeat New York’s anti-Israel “Squad” Councilman Jamaal Bowman now wants to dramatically increase voter turnout in New York’s mayoral and city council elections.
“New York City is home to the largest Jewish population in the country, and there is growing concern globally about anti-Semitism and safety,” said Maury Litwak, executive director of the Teach New York coalition.
“We want people to vote so that our issues are not ignored. Higher Jewish voter turnout could have a huge impact on New York City elections,” he said.
The group’s participation certainly influenced the recent Bowman vs. George Latimer congressional race, in which the left-leaning incumbent lost in a major Democratic primary to challenger Latimer, who is Westchester County mayor.
“We are proud that the Jewish community participated in the 16th District vote. It was a proud moment for us,” said Joseph Potasnik, vice president of the New York Association of Rabbis.
“This is a model, a roadmap for us to move forward. We must not neglect the Jewish community.”
The Teach New York Coalition has emerged as a powerful counterbalance to the far-left wing within the anti-Israel Democratic Socialists of America and their supporters. These groups have largely condoned Palestinian Hamas terrorists for the October 7, 2023 atrocities against Israel, and even support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against the Jewish state.
In the Bowman-Latimer primary in the 16th Congressional District, which stretches from Co-op City in the Bronx to the leafy suburbs of Westchester, Jewish voter turnout was more than 60 percent, compared with 27 percent among non-Jewish voters, according to a TeachNY/Westchester United analysis.
Although Jews make up only 9% of the population, they received 23% of the total votes.
Jews voted early, accounting for a staggering 52 percent of all early mail-in votes and 29 percent of all in-person early votes.
The group worked closely with rabbis and targeted members of more than 30 synagogues.
Democratic voter turnout in these synagogues ranged from 73% to 89%.
Early efforts included encouraging Jewish voters registered as independents or Republicans to re-register as Democrats in the Bowman-Latimer primary.
One in six Jewish voters targeted by the re-registration campaign, or 2,010 voters, registered as Democrats by the Feb. 14 deadline.
Though not legally a partisan group that can pledge support or opposition to a candidate, Teach NY targeted voters who were not Bowman supporters.
Litwak said the organization, with its deep ties to New York, can replicate and scale Westchester’s successful model to increase Jewish voter turnout in New York and beyond.
The group’s recruiters can focus on parents whose children attend yeshivas, as well as the city’s hundreds of synagogues, he said.
“There are 100,000 students in yeshivas in New York City,” he said.
Mayor Eric Adams is expected to run for reelection next year. He will likely face Democratic primary challenges from City Auditor Brad Lander, former Auditor Scott Stringer and Brooklyn State Sen. Zellnor Miley.
Guardian’s Angel founder Curtis Suriawa, a 2021 Republican candidate, is expected to run again, and Junior’s Restaurant owner Alan Rosen is also considering running on the Republican ballot.
