The first Jewish woman to win a NYC mayoral primary has a message for voters about Mamdani
Ruth Messinger praised the Democratic nominee’s focus on affordability and immigrant protections
Former Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger on Aug. 11. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By Jacob Kornbluh August 11, 2025
Ruth Messinger, the trailblazing Jewish political leader who in 1997 became the first and only woman to win the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor, endorsed Zohran Mamdani on Monday. Her support came as the Democratic nominee launched his citywide “Five Boroughs Against Trump” tour in Manhattan, joined by Assemblyman Harvey Epstein and Rep. Jerry Nadler, co-chair of the Congressional Jewish Caucus, who had endorsed Mamdani after his primary victory.
In an interview, Messinger, 84, cited Mamdani’s focus on affordability and fighting authoritarianism as her reason for backing him as an “incredibly refreshing alternative” to the current field of candidates.
But Messinger, who served as Manhattan borough president before her mayoral run and later led the American Jewish World Service for 17 years, also had a message for Jewish voters, some of whom remain wary of Mamdani amid rising antisemitism due to his long history of criticizing Israel and his associations with pro-Palestinian groups.
“The primary job for the Jewish community is to be sure that this is a safe and thriving city for Jews,” which it has been for a few hundred years, Messinger said.
In a 2021 op-ed for the Forward, Messinger suggested that the outcome of the mayoral race is something “that all American Jews should care about — New York is, in its population and in its soul, a Jewish city we all have a stake in.” Messinger supported Brad Lander and Scott Stringer, both of whom are also Jewish, in the recent mayoral primary.
A recent survey showed Mamdani, who is Muslim, leading among Jewish voters at 37%, while about 60% are split among other candidates, including Mayor Eric Adams, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
Since trouncing Cuomo in the Democratic primary by 12 points, Mamdani has reiterated his commitment to the safety of Jewish New Yorkers and his willingness to meet with Jewish leaders.
Israel was not mentioned during Monday’s endorsement event. A recent poll by a progressive research group that correctly predicted Mamdani’s primary win suggested his criticism of Israel resonated with many Democratic voters, energizing first-time and younger supporters.
Messinger said that whoever is elected mayor would likely have strong opinions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it would not be their primary job.
“I’m comfortable with what I’ve heard him say,” she said. “I don’t know that we agree on every single issue. But with all due respect, I’m not electing him to be the ambassador to the Middle East.”
Messinger described Mamdani as someone sensitive to intolerance and a “capable” leader with a set of “thoughtful solutions” to address growing hate and antisemitism.
A passion for immigrants
At the news conference announcing her endorsement, Messinger highlighted her background and her recent work with new immigrants. She was inspired by her maternal grandfather, Israel Goldwasser, born to a newly arrived immigrant family 140 years ago, she said. He later became a public school superintendent, teaching English to the Yiddish-speaking parents of his students, before serving as the first executive director of the New York Jewish Federation.
“He and his pupils and their families built this city over the last century,” she said.
Messinger is a prominent figure in Jewish social justice work, serving as a consultant to several organizations and advocating for undocumented immigrants in recent years.
This election cycle is different, she said, because of what she called a “hostile” federal government that instills fear in immigrant communities and has cut funding for crucial services for families in need. Mamdani’s tour across the city will spotlight those issues that he said are threatened under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Messinger said she is confident Mamdani will stand up to the administration and invest in the needed services “to build this fantastic immigrant city for its future — for my children, your children, my grandchildren, your grandchildren, and my great-grandchildren.”
Correction: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story incorrectly paraphrased a quote from Ruth Messinger. She said that New York City has long been a safe and thriving city for Jews, not that it had long been a safe and thriving city for Jews.
