NEW YORK — A coalition of progressive Jewish organizations, led by Jewish Voice for Peace Action and the electoral arm of Jews for Racial & Economic Justice known as The Jewish Vote, has formally endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor despite his record of anti-Zionist activism.
Jewish Voice for Peace Action tweeted its backing, hailing Mamdani as “a champion for working class communities in New York,” while The Jewish Vote issued a joint endorsement of Mamdani and Brad Lander, citing their shared vision for economic and social justice.
Supporters point to Mamdani’s progressive platform on housing, transit, and climate as evidence that his record transcends foreign-policy divides. But critics warn that Jewish endorsements of an anti-Zionist candidate risk undermining community cohesion.
Spencer Ackerman, a journalist and Mamdani backer, argued that “they made it a referendum on anti-Zionism being antisemitism and they lost,” asserting that concerns over Mamdani’s views did not deter Jewish voters aligned with his domestic agenda.
Daniel S. Mariaschin, CEO of B’nai B’rith International, said the endorsements were “more than troubling,” noting Mamdani’s “dismissive attitude to the concerns of New York’s Jewish community,” especially regarding Israel’s security.
Mainstream Jewish organizations largely withheld support. While Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Jerry Nadler signaled openness to Mamdani’s policy agenda, they stopped short of formal endorsement. Major groups such as AIPAC and the Anti-Defamation League instead backed establishment figures in the primary.
Critics caution that endorsing a candidate who refuses to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and who has declined to condemn calls to “globalize the intifada” risks normalizing rhetoric linked to violence against Jews. In the wake of these endorsements, many Zionist leaders fear a further erosion of communal solidarity.
This article is based on verified information from Jewish Voice for Peace Action, The Jewish Vote, B’nai B’rith International, The Times of Israel, JNS, and The Forward.