NEW YORK, NY — A New York Times/Siena College poll released this week found Zohran Mamdani leading other mayoral candidates when likely voters were asked who best addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a result that Jewish leaders say has intensified fears across the city. The poll was conducted Sept. 2 to 6.
The survey showed Mamdani with a plurality on the question of Israel-Palestine messaging and found larger sympathy for Palestinians than for Israel among likely voters. Jewish advocates say the numbers expose a troubling shift in public attitudes that has been fueled by Mamdani’s record and rhetoric.
New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, who represents a heavily Jewish district, told Fox News Digital that many Jewish residents are terrified and are contemplating leaving the city if Mamdani wins. “They are going to run away,” she said, adding that the community has contributed deeply to the city’s cultural and economic life.
The Lawfare Project, which issued a news release compiling testimony from Jewish New Yorkers, said Mamdani’s past statements and associations with advisers who promote anti-Israel views have created a climate of fear. The group urged Jewish voters and city leaders to treat the issue as a matter of communal safety.
Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein, executive director of the Lawfare Project, told Fox News Digital the poll results are “deeply troubling” and characterized Mamdani as an anti-Israel radical whose positions undermine Jewish security and civic norms. Her comments reflect broader concern among Jewish legal and advocacy groups.
Critics point to several specific incidents to illustrate their concern. They cite Mamdani’s past refusal to explicitly repudiate the slogan globalize the intifada, his support for economic boycotts of Israel, and social media posts attributed to associates that critics say at best show insensitivity to Jewish concerns and at worst condone or minimize violence.
Mamdani and his campaign have disputed charges of antisemitism and said he supports dialogue and the safety of all New Yorkers.
Jewish community groups said the poll and Mr. Mamdani’s record demand urgent political attention. They called on fellow citizens and elected officials to press for clear commitments to protect places of worship, to condemn antisemitic rhetoric, and to ensure that municipal policy will safeguard minority communities.
Analysts said the issue could reshape the mayoral contest. Some warned that a candidate perceived as hostile to core Jewish concerns could drive a political realignment among voters who prioritize safety and communal stability. Others cautioned that polling snapshots can shift quickly as campaigns intensify.
For many pro-Israel and Jewish readers, the episode is a testing moment for civic institutions. Legal advocates said monitoring the campaign and pressing for explicit, enforceable commitments from candidates on security and discrimination will be essential if Jewish life is to remain secure in New York City.
This article is based on verified information from The Lawfare Project press releases, Fox News Digital reporting, the New York Times/Siena College poll, and contemporaneous social media posts.