Zohran Mamdani’s Tuesday victory over both former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in the 2025 New York City mayoral election came at the culmination of a roughly year-long race.
Now, the question remains: how do Israelis feel about Mamdani’s victory? Jerusalem locals approached by The Jerusalem Post shared their perspectives.
One Israeli woman was clearly frustrated with Mamdani’s election, saying that “[Mamdani winning] is the worst thing that could happen to the Jews in general and to the people of New York,” stating that “He’s very antisemitic. He’s very hateful.”
Another couple agreed, calling Mamdani “antisemitic” and a “Hamas supporter.”
Israelis fear NYC Mayor Mamdani, aliyah as solution
Anger, however, wasn’t the only feeling that permeated the Jerusalem public the day after the election. Fear and anxiety were widespread, with one woman commenting that she felt “frustrated, scared, and a bit sad that people are against Israel more and more these days.”
Another interviewee echoed her fear of global isolation, adding that before the election even took place, “[Mamdani] was already talking about how they’re going to stop the $3.5 billion of aid to Israel.”
Many believed that aliyah, or Jewish immigration to Israel, was the only solution to the problems of the diaspora. One man even expressed hope that Jews would “think more and say, maybe we’ll go to Israel. It’s about all the world, but especially now in New York.”
Even with Mamdani’s promises to stand up for Jews, many Israelis were skeptical. Another local woman, when asked whether she believed he would follow through, answered with a resounding “no,” adding, “He's a liar, and I would tell it to his face if I had a chance.”
Israelis distrust NYC Mayor Mamdani's promises, say 'we will see'
Another called Mamdani’s promises out as a tactic to gain popular support, saying that “he knows how to talk in order to get the [votes] that he needs.”
Despite having some Jewish support at home, it’s unlikely that Mamdani has any widespread support from Jews in Israel, who generally respond to his words with cynicism and distrust.
He knows how to talk to get the voice he needs. Going into a four-year long term starting on January 1, 2026, the future of New York City’s Jews is perhaps summed up best by an Israeli-American singer who described his future in the world’s Jewish capital with three words: “We will see.”
Who is Mamdani?
New York City is the home to roughly 10 million people, of whom about one million are Jewish and 15% of 2025 election voters. Political success in the city often depends on gaining Jewish support, and candidates vie for endorsements from prominent rabbis and community leaders.
In June, Mamdani shocked pollsters by defeating Cuomo in the Democratic primary, even though Cuomo ran as an independent in the general election. Mamdani has faced criticism from Jewish and pro-Israel groups for several reasons.
A former artist, the NYC Mayor once rapped in support of the 'Holy Land Five,' a group convicted of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas under the guise of a charity. As a member of the New York State Assembly, he brought forth legislation that would hurt Jewish nonprofits operating in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, although it did not pass.
Since the start of his campaign, Mamdani has refused to condemn the term “Globalize the Intifada,” a stance that has led to denunciations from many in New York.
Despite this, Mamdani, in his victory speech, promised to fight antisemitism, vowing to “build a City Hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers,” a claim he has reiterated throughout his campaign. Despite these promises, a CNN poll showed that only 33% of Jews voted for him, which is lower than usual, as Jewish New Yorkers tend to lean Democrat.
Even with all the Jewish opposition that he’s faced, Mamdani enjoyed the endorsement of several anti-Zionist Jewish groups such as JVP Action and Bend the Arc.