Anti-Zionist Zohran Mamdani Elected Mayor of New York City
The fiercely contested New York mayoral race concluded Tuesday night with Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani declared the winner. The 34-year-old assemblyman from Queens secured 50.4% of the vote against former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 41.3% at approximately 9:40 p.m., with 75% of ballots counted. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa trailed with 7.5%.
The election was seen by many as a referendum on Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Mamdani’s political career has been heavily shaped by his outspoken criticism of Israel and his support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
“Israel is an apartheid state,”
he has declared on multiple occasions, voicing solidarity with Palestinian activists. His election makes him the first openly anti-Zionist mayor of New York, the city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel.
Political Impact and Reactions
Mamdani’s victory marks a sharp shift in New York’s political landscape, reflecting the growing ideological rift within the Democratic Party over Israel and the role of Jewish identity in progressive politics.
- Supporters applaud Mamdani as a consistent advocate for Palestinian rights.
- Jewish community leaders, however, criticize him for normalizing rhetoric that they consider antisemitic and for associating with groups hostile to Israel’s existence.
Summary
Mamdani’s election signals both a political realignment in New York and a deepening debate within the Democratic Party over Israel and progressive values.
Author’s Summary: Mamdani’s win underscores New York’s political transformation and rising tensions over Israel within progressive circles.