Stefanik Criticizes Hochul for Supporting Mamdani

Elise Stefanik, a Republican candidate for governor, harshly criticized Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday night for endorsing Zoran Mamdani, labeling him a “raging anti-Semite” amidst his campaign for mayor. This came just after Hochul received an award from a prominent Jewish organization.

“It’s clear we are at a tipping point when the world’s most important city might elect someone like Mamdani—a defund-the-police advocate who has communist leanings and will likely raise taxes,” Stefanik remarked during the Zionist Organization of America’s annual gala.

Stefanik accused Mamdani of promising to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and claimed his political background is tainted by sympathies for violence and extremism.

“This is the same person who advocates that Hamas should not disarm. He’s campaigned alongside someone tied to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,” she argued, pointing out the precarious position of New York’s large Jewish community in light of Mamdani’s potential leadership.

As the chair of the House Republican Conference, Stefanik also voiced support for Miriam Adelson, a billionaire philanthropist, at the same event.

She pledged to speak out against hate directed at Jews, stating, “At a time when New Yorkers needed decisive leadership, Governor Hochul showed weakness and backed a jihadist for mayor—putting the safety of Jewish New Yorkers at risk.”

Stefanik’s remarks suggested that Hochul’s motivations are tied to her low poll numbers, implying political cowardice: “She threw New Yorkers under the bus just because she’s struggling in the polls.”

In her campaign, Stefanik emphasizes both economic and moral issues—specifically combating anti-Semitism in a state with the highest Jewish population outside Israel. She noted that reports of anti-Semitic incidents are at alarming levels.

Just last week, the newly announced gubernatorial candidate insisted it isn’t a coincidence that a swastika appeared outside Brooklyn’s Magen David Yeshiva shortly after Mamdani’s electoral success, linking this to a failure of leadership from Hochul and Mamdani.

“Kathy Hochul is letting anti-Semitism grow. She didn’t just tolerate it; she embraced it,” Stefanik contended. “When the Jewish community most needed her, she chose to support Mamdani, allowing a dangerous ideology to take root within the Democratic Party.”

Stefanik described Hochul’s actions as “weakness” and “surrender.”

At the gala, Stefanik was presented with the Maccabee Warrior Award, recognizing her efforts against anti-Semitism. She highlighted her previous inquiries at a House hearing, which led to significant changes among Ivy League leadership.

Additionally, she honored the memory of Omer Neutra and Itai Chen, two New Yorkers killed during Hamas’ attacks in Gaza in October.

The newspaper has reached out to both Hochul and Mamdani for their responses.