Amid Jewish Divides and Minority Struggles, What Are the Chances for New York’s Muslim Mayor Hopeful?

It seems the path is opening up for Zohran Mamdani, the Muslim candidate for New York City mayor, who could become the most prominent pro-Palestinian elected official in the city that is home to the largest Jewish population outside “Israel.” His rise has sparked unease among many in Jewish circles.

As the November 4, 2025, mayoral election approaches in America’s economic capital, polls suggest Mamdani could win. In response, a growing campaign led by some Jewish groups has begun portraying him as “antisemitic” in an effort to derail his candidacy.

After earlier attempts backed by Jewish business figures and right-wing supporters to sideline him, by promoting rivals such as Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, failed to gain traction, a new wave of attacks has emerged, accusing Mamdani of posing a threat to the safety of New York’s Jewish residents.

Hundreds of rabbis have signed statements and petitions opposing his election, warning of the potential fallout from the rise of what they describe as an anti-Zionist mayor in the most Jewish city in the United States.

Yet, in a striking twist, progressive Jewish groups and some Israelis living in New York have voiced support for Mamdani, according to Israeli media, citing his social and economic platform focused on improving the lives of working-class New Yorkers.

Interest in the race has now spread beyond New York’s five boroughs, sparking debate among Jewish and Muslim communities across the United States, reflecting a broader shift in public attitudes toward “Israel,” Gaza, and domestic American politics.

‘Anti-Israel’ or Anti-Semitic?

As election day draws near, Zohran Mamdani’s opponents have intensified their attacks, accusing him of supporting terrorism. 

His rival, Andrew Cuomo, even claimed that Mamdani would rejoice if New York were to face an attack similar to those of September 11, 2001.

Debates over alleged “antisemitism” have escalated in the final days of the mayoral race, particularly as the Muslim candidate’s chances of winning appear to be rising, according to a Washington Post report published on October 25, 2025.

Some leaders of Jewish congregations in New York have issued warnings urging Jewish voters not to support Mamdani, citing what they describe as his troubling positions on “Israel” and the city’s Jewish community, which they claim threaten their safety.

Leading the campaign were Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan and Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, who accused Mamdani of “fanning the flames of intolerance” against “Israel’s” right to exist.

They argued that his refusal to recognize “Israel” as a Jewish state amounts to a denial of its legitimacy, and described his stated intention to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, if elected, as “outrageous,” according to Fox News on October 22, 2025.

Between 800 and 1,000 rabbis and Jewish theology students, according to varying estimates, have signed an open letter against Mamdani, calling him a threat to “the safety and dignity of Jews across the city,” reported Jewish Insider on October 22, 2025.

Some rabbis described him as a danger to their community because of his rejection of a “Jewish” religious state in “Israel.” They called his rhetoric on “Israel” “dangerous” and said his accusations of genocide in Gaza had “fueled antisemitism.”

Mamdani has strongly rejected claims that his stance on Gaza incites antisemitism, insisting that, as mayor, he would focus on combating antisemitism and all forms of hate, pledging to increase funding for crime prevention programs ninefold.

In a separate statement, 650 rabbis claimed that the Muslim candidate “supports global jihad and denies “Israel’s” right to exist.”

Mamdani responded, saying, “I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad. That is not something that I have said, and that continues to be ascribed to me. And frankly, I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election.”

Ironically, the Jewish community’s concern, observers note, has less to do with Mamdani’s ability to govern New York and serve its residents, and more with his political stances, particularly his refusal to recognize “Israel” as a Jewish state and his criticism of the Gaza war.

Despite racial and xenophobic attacks on his African heritage and skin color, Mamdani continues to surge in the polls, prompting his opponents to double down on accusations of “antisemitism.”

Zohran Mamdani scored a surprise victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor in June 2025, boosting his chances in a city where the majority of residents lean Democratic.

His Jewish opponents have deployed a range of mobilization and pressure tactics, including open letters, rabbinical petitions, and sermons in places of worship warning against what they describe as “anti-Zionism and threats to Jewish safety.”

The media campaigns have also included sponsored posts and paid ads in local Jewish newspapers and websites, along with statements from organizations such as the AJC, JNS, and JTA.

Jews Supporting the Muslim Candidate

In contrast to members of the Jewish community who accused him of antisemitism, progressive and left-wing Jews, along with groups such as Bend the Arc and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), have rallied behind Zohran Mamdani.

They have focused on mobilizing progressive Jewish voters in his favor, arguing that local issues such as housing, transportation, economic justice, social policy, and the fight against racism and poverty matter far more than Middle East conflicts.

These organizations say their support for the Muslim candidate stems from his commitment to policies that serve New Yorkers, dismissing conservative rabbis’ criticism as a political attempt to deny him the majority of progressive Jewish votes.

New York is home to the largest Jewish community outside “Israel,” as well as the largest Muslim population in the United States. 

Mamdani’s supporters among Muslims and progressive Jews have centered their campaign on improving public services, tackling corruption, and curbing billionaire influence over city politics.

During “Israel’s” war on Gaza, two Jewish organizations stood out in opposition to “Israel.”

The first, Jewish Voice for Peace, expressed solidarity with Gaza, organizing a wave of demonstrations and occupying a congressional building to protest what it called Israeli atrocities. 

Their banners read “End killing and the funding of killing!,” “Not in our name,” and “Never again for anyone.”

The second group, IfNotNow, also known as the Middle East Peace Foundation or Fighters for Peace, aims, as American Jews, to end U.S. support for what it calls “Israel’s” apartheid system, and to advocate for equality, justice, and a shared, prosperous future for all.

Because these organizations share Mamdani’s opposition to the war on Gaza, they backed him during the Democratic primaries, which he won in June 2025, and are expected to continue supporting him despite his criticism of “Israel.”

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on October 25, 2025, that around 40 percent of Jews and Israelis living in New York intend to vote for Mamdani. 

Some told the paper that “He's not antisemitic and not an enemy,” rejecting the claims made by other Jewish groups.

A Pew Research Center survey found that about seven in ten Jewish Americans who identify as Democrats support the Muslim candidate. 

A Washington Post study published in September 2025 also revealed widespread disapproval of “Israel’s” conduct in the Gaza war and a growing sense of detachment from “Israel” among young American Jews.

According to other recent polls, two out of every five Jewish or Israeli New Yorkers back Mamdani’s mayoral bid, though many prefer not to express their support publicly because of his sharp criticism of “Israel,” Yedioth Ahronoth noted.

Against “Israel,” not Jews

Mamdani has pledged to hold Benjamin Netanyahu accountable and arrest him if he enters New York, in accordance with the International Criminal Court’s ruling. 

He has also vowed to withdraw the city’s investments from Israeli bonds and companies, and to dissolve the New York, Israel Economic Council.

Mamdani further announced plans to redefine antisemitism to exclude anti-Zionism and to ease restrictions on pro-Palestinian protesters.

According to a report by the Jewish outlet The Forward, Mamdani could become New York’s first Muslim mayor, thanks in part to a skilled team of young Jewish professionals who helped him overcome his rivals. 

His campaign team includes Jewish experts who have worked to build support within the community, holding ongoing meetings with Jewish leaders and promising to address the rise of antisemitism in the city.

His campaign rests on promises to make New York more livable and resilient, with policies such as free bus lines, universal childcare, a rent freeze, a city-run grocery program, and higher taxes on the wealthy.

Although Mamdani’s stance on “Israel,” his refusal to recognize it as a Jewish state, and his support for Palestinian rights have angered parts of the Jewish community, others have shifted the debate toward questions of antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Mamdani wrote on his social media account, “The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker.”

Jewish Billionaires

Because the Muslim candidate’s platform threatens the interests of New York’s billionaires, most of whom are Jewish, many of them have poured significant financial backing into his rivals and funded campaigns aimed at scaring voters away from electing him as mayor.

Wealthy Jewish business figures fear the potential economic shifts the city might undergo if Mamdani wins, prompting them to close ranks and spend vast sums to block his path to City Hall.

Business Insider reported on October 27, 2025, that 26 billionaires, most of them “pro-Israel” Jews, 16 based in New York and the rest from outside the city, have spent more than $22 million since the Democratic primaries in June 2025 in an effort to defeat Mamdani.

Among the most prominent donors are Mike Bloomberg, Bill Ackman, Alice Walton, Steve Wynn, and the Lauder family, all of whom have spent heavily in attempts to stop him from winning.

“Pro-Israel” Jewish billionaires have funneled substantial sums into groups aimed at halting Mamdani’s rise, most notably Fix the City, which supports Cuomo and raised $7.3 million, and Defend NYC, an anti-Mamdani group that collected around $2.5 million.

Their primary concern has been Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of billionaire influence and his policy agenda to curb it. He has declared, “I don’t think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country.” and “Ultimately, the reason I want to increase these taxes on the top 1%, the most profitable corporations, is to increase the quality of life for everyone, including those who are going to be taxed.”

Their fears center on the potential disruption his policies could bring to the business environment, including rent freezes, higher taxes on major corporations, free public transportation, and restrictions on real estate profits.

Most of these billionaires hold substantial investments in New York’s property market and corporations, making Mamdani’s proposals a direct threat to their economic interests.