Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s allies, who recently secured a significant win in the Democratic primary, proudly highlighted their focus on affordable messaging. However, some critics argue that this shift appears to be fueling an anti-Israel sentiment, indicating a leftward trend in the party.
State Democrat Jay Jacobs noted that attitudes toward Israel played a crucial role in the primary victories of Mamdani’s associates, such as the outspoken Dalializa Avila Chevalier and former City Comptroller Brad Lander, both of whom managed to unseat incumbents like Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman.
Both Espaillat and Goldman have supported Israel, which might have influenced younger liberal activists with pro-Palestinian views, particularly those who have been critical of Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Jacobs mentioned, “Yes, I think the Israeli-Palestinian issue had an impact on the election. It hurt the established Democratic Party.” He suggested that some voters might have chosen to oppose Espaillat and Goldman for this reason. “That was significant for the activists who turned out to vote,” he added.
In a primary where only about 17% of voters participated, Jacobs pointed out that pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel campaigns resonated more with those who showed up at the polls.
The Anti-Defamation League condemned the outcomes, stating they emerged amid an upsurge in anti-Semitic sentiment in New York City, which houses one of the largest Jewish communities outside of Israel. In a statement shared on X, the ADL remarked, “On Tuesday night, a movement based on anti-Semitic rhetoric won three congressional primaries in New York City.”
On primary night, as Mamdani mingled with enthusiastic supporters at a DSA victory gathering, attendees shouted “from the river to the sea,” a phrase often interpreted as a call against Israel.
The ADL further noted that candidates are thriving not despite, but due to, rhetoric that vilifies the Jewish community and Israel. “When leaders celebrate slogans that dehumanize Jewish individuals, it goes beyond just campaign victories. It seeps into communities, affecting Jewish families and children,” they added.
The candidates backed by Mamdani are aligning the party further to the left, similar to the Democratic Socialists of America’s recent achievements. This trend has drawn comparisons to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 victory, and many speculate it could lead to significant shifts in power and policy within the state Democratic Party.
Chevalier’s platform included controversial stances like ending U.S. military aid to Israel. During her campaign, she narrowly defeated five-term incumbent Espaillat in the 13th Congressional District, which encompasses Harlem, Washington Heights, and parts of the Bronx.
Interestingly, on October 7, the day after a devastating attack on Israel by Hamas, Chevalier participated in an anti-Israel rally in Times Square, where flags and swastikas were burned.
Meanwhile, DSA candidate Valdez, currently a state representative, also secured the Brooklyn-Queens House District 7 seat, triumphing over Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a favored candidate for retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez.
Lander, a former DSA member, soundly defeated Goldman, citing claims of genocide against Israel regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Pollsters have observed a notable change in the Democratic Party’s perspective on Israel since the Gaza conflict began. Bradley Honan from Honan Strategy Group stated, “The voters who showed up were anti-Israel, and there wasn’t a counter-narrative.”
A recent Gallup poll revealed that over half of U.S. Democrats now express negative views towards Israel, marking a first in the history of such polling since 1989. Only about 33% maintained a favorable opinion, while 60% viewed it unfavorably.
Jacobs acknowledged that support for Israel has become a contentious issue, increasingly so within the Republican Party as well. He attributed this divisiveness in part to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions during the Gaza war.
Jacobs, who identifies as pro-Israel, expressed that while criticism may have merit, it often propagates falsehoods that those against Israel use to bolster their arguments. “It’s not accurate to say Israel is committing genocide. This is war,” he stated, adding that Israel is not an “apartheid” state and that Arab citizens possess the same rights as others.
