A new group is launching a $7 million campaign to mobilize Jewish voters in New York City's city council elections, including the mayor's race, the Post reported.
The Jewish Voter Action Network will target voters in 12 City Council districts with large Jewish populations and ensure they get to the polls. All parliamentary seats will be up for grabs this year. There are also elections for mayor, auditor, and public hearings.
The group's multi-pronged effort will begin by encouraging independent and Republican Jewish voters to formally switch to the Democratic Party in the face of rising local anti-Semitism. Focus on being able to participate in the primaries.
Efforts like this could make a big difference because overall Democratic primary turnout is typically low, and Democratic primary winners in races like City Hall typically score in November.
The deadline to re-register with another political party is February 14th.
This push includes advertising on cable, digital, social media, text messages and direct mail.
The second phase of the effort will partner with local agencies and volunteer groups to organize and mobilize Jewish voters to go to the polls.
Maury Litwak, founder of the Jewish Voter Action Network, said that in last year's Democratic primary for House District 16, which includes Westchester and most of Westchester, moderate Democrat George Latimer was a left-wing flame monger and anti-Israel. He helped defeat incumbent Congressman Jamaal Bowman and worked to energize Jewish voters. Part of the Bronx.
The group Litwak led at the time, Teach Coalition, which is affiliated with the Orthodox Jewish Union, also targeted voters in the Jewish enclaves of battleground states Pennsylvania and Nevada, where President-elect Donald Trump He received a larger share of the vote than Republicans. presidential candidates.
The winner of New York City's Democratic mayoral primary will likely decide the next mayor, which is why the Jewish Voter Action Network is also focusing on that, Litwak said.
“Jewish voters are waking up to the realization that the Democratic primary will be decided by low turnout,” Litwak told the Post on Sunday.
New York City's 1 million Jews are the most religious of any municipality in the country.
Although the group is nonpartisan, Litwak has spoken out against politicians who don't take anti-Semitism seriously or who follow the line of the anti-Israel left-wing Democratic Socialists of America. On October 7, 2023, the day after Hamas attacked Israel and massacred 1,200 people, DSA sponsored an anti-Israel rally in Times Square.
“The vast majority of Jews do not agree with DSA's positions and platform, and find many of their positions deeply disturbing,” Litwak said.
He plans to have thousands of volunteers knocking on doors to persuade Jews to vote, just as DSA prides itself on its grassroots efforts.
Litwak said Jewish voters are generally common-sense voters.
“The Jewish community can make positive change by voting,” he said.
Declared Democratic mayoral candidates include incumbent Eric Adams, who is facing federal corruption charges, City Auditor Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn State Sen. Zellner Miley, They include Queens State Sen. Jessica Ramos, DSA-backed Queens Assemblyman Zoran Mamdani, and attorneys. Jim Walden.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is also considering a run for mayor.
Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is almost certain to seek the Republican nomination for mayor again. He lost the 2021 general election to Adams, but his profile rose as Guardian Angels returned to overseeing the violent subway system.
