Mamdani’s victory divides Jewish leaders one more way: Whether to say congratulations
Mamdani will be the first Muslim mayor of the city with the highest concentration of Jews in the U.S.
Supporters of New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrate during an election night event in Brooklyn. Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
By Louis Keene November 4, 2025
Jewish leaders reacted with a mix of chill, optimism and resolve after state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, an outspoken critic of Israel, coasted to victory in New York City’s mayoral election.
Many of Mamdani’s biggest critics commented on his victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. But not all of them were willing to congratulate Mamdani, whose politics have exposed a deep rift in the Jewish community over Israel and antisemitism.
Mamdani’s refusal to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada,” his description of Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide and his admission that he would not attend the city’s annual Israel Day parade infuriated many of the city’s Jews, though others — especially younger Jewish voters — understood or appreciated what they saw as a principled stand.
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, often emphasized that foreign policy was a secondary concern, but he was dogged throughout the campaign by remarks he made about Israel.
Exit polls by CNN showed 60% of the city’s Jewish voters backing Cuomo, who ran as an independent following Mamdani’s victory in the June Democratic primary.
Mamdani’s opponents respond to his victory
Among the detractors declining to wish the mayor-elect well was Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who wrote on X that in light of Mamdani’s “long, disturbing record on issues of deep concern to the Jewish community, we will approach the next four years with resolve.”
A joint statement from several establishment New York Jewish institutions, including the city’s Jewish Federation and Board of Rabbis, also declined to congratulate Mamdani, who is the city’s first-ever Muslim mayor-elect.
“New Yorkers have spoken, electing Zohran Mamdani as the next Mayor of New York City,” the statement, which was also signed by the American Jewish Committee, Jewish Community Relations Council and ADL, in part read. “We recognize that voters are animated by a range of issues, but we cannot ignore that the Mayor-elect holds core beliefs fundamentally at odds with our community’s deepest convictions and most cherished values.”
The groups added that they would work with “all levels of government” to ensure the safety of the city’s Jewish community.
A few Mamdani opponents took a friendlier tack.
Pro-Israel billionaire Bill Ackman, who had predicted a Cuomo win earlier in the day, appeared to extend an olive branch. After the election was called for Mamdani, Ackman wrote, “@zohranmamdani congrats on the win. Now you have a big responsibility. If I can help NYC, just let me know what I can do.”
The Democratic Majority for Israel, a national organization, congratulated Mamdani but added, “We urge him to prioritize fulfilling his campaign promises to bring down costs, not foreign policy issues that are unrelated to the everyday lives of most New Yorkers.”
Handwringing in the Hasbara set
Pro-Israel Jewish influencers took to X to express their dismay at the outcome.
“The strongest feeling I have right now is betrayal,” wrote Yehuda Teitelbaum. Lizzy Savetsky said, “This will get ugly.” And PragerU commentator Shabbos Kestenbaum sneered at the outcome.
“According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Zohran Mamdani has just won with a whopping 312% of the vote,” Kestenbaum wrote. As the post gained traction, former Tablet writer Zack Schrieber responded: “This is the type of absolute insane nonsense that will continue to push Zionism to the margins of American politics. It’s not only counterproductive, it’s downright destructive to the long term interests of the Jewish people.”
One pattern emerging from the reaction, particularly among Cuomo supporters, was to blame Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa as a spoiler who stayed in the race after even incumbent Mayor Eric Adams dropped out. Cuomo supporters at his Ziegfeld Ballroom watch party chanted, “Shame on Sliwa.” But Sliwa’s votes, even if Cuomo had received all of them, would likely not have been enough to overcome Mamdani’s lead.
As speculation grew about a mass Jewish exodus from New York City, one enterprising Jewish leader announced his plans to serve the new diaspora. Rabbi Marc Schneier, head of the Hampton Synagogue, an Orthodox congregation on Long Island, said he was launching a Jewish day school, which he said was the first in the Hamptons.
“This is in anticipation of the thousands of Jewish families that will flock to the Hamptons and greater Suffolk County to escape the antisemitic climate of Mamdani’s New York City,” Schneier said.
Jewish Mamdani supporters celebrate
During his acceptance speech, Mamdani vowed to “build a city hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism.”
The Jewish writer Meyer Labin shared the clip on X, adding, “Music to my ears. Congratulations mayor @zohranmamdani.”
Other Jewish Mamdani supporters hailed news of his election as a watershed for the city.
New York City controller Brad Lander, who campaigned for Mamdani and helped build bridges to parts of the Jewish community, celebrated at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre with the mayor-elect wearing a message to Cuomo on his T-shirt, “Good F—ing Riddance.”
Peter Beinart, a Jewish Israel critic who does not live in New York but who supported Mamdani’s candidacy, said, “If you’re a Jewish New Yorker who can’t understand why people in your city voted for Zohran Mamdani, ask your children. They probably did too.”
