Josh Kraushaar’s recent analysis of New York City’s mayoral race in Jewish Insider should be required reading for anyone who still believes politics is more than tribalism. His piece captures an uncomfortable but urgent truth: Zohran Mamdani’s improbable rise is a wake-up call — not only for New York City’s political class but also for the city’s diverse communities, especially its Jewish population, which now confronts a deeply troubling political reality.
Mamdani, a far-left New York State assemblyman from Queens and proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won the Democratic primary by running an ideologically rigid campaign centered on identity politics, grassroots mobilization and antiestablishment zeal. He didn’t capture the city — he exploited a fractured field. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s comeback bid split moderates with scandal-weary Mayor Eric Adams, who refused to step aside. With the center divided and the left energized, Mamdani surged.
His ascent is no fluke. Mamdani has openly criticized the New York Police Department, endorsed policies aligned with the BDS movement, refused to condemn chants to “globalize the intifada” and hesitated to denounce antisemitic rhetoric among political allies. His views are not just out of step with mainstream New Yorkers; they’re hostile to the principles of pluralism, public safety and civil unity.
And yet, he now leads in the polls.
But that lead is fragile. According to a recent HarrisX poll, Mamdani sits at just 26% in a four-way race — alarmingly low for a Democrat in deep-blue New York City. Cuomo, who was right behind Mamdani with 23%, and Adams, combined, still outpoll him. But their personal ambitions and mutual disdain are splintering the anti-Mamdani vote. Unless one of them steps aside, Mamdani’s path to victory remains open.
This is the critical inflection point. Cuomo and Adams cannot both stay in the race. They are appealing to the same voters, drawing from the same centrist and traditional base.
Each man knows his continued presence may hand Mamdani the mayoralty. And still, each selfishly hopes the other will be convinced to withdraw.
In fact, the issue isn’t just Cuomo or Adams. It’s the Democratic Party itself. More than a month after Mamdani’s win, top Democrats — from Gov. Kathy Hochul to Sen. Chuck Schumer to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries — have said little, if anything, about his candidacy. Their silence signals fear: fear of alienating the activist left, fear of endorsing a losing bet, fear of taking a stand. That silence is an abdication of leadership.
The Jewish community is rightfully alarmed. Mamdani’s record suggests not just indifference, but open hostility to their concerns. But outrage is not enough. What’s needed is coordinated political action — coalition building, voter education and organized turnout efforts. This moment requires clarity, not just complaints.
Ironically, the final outcome could hinge on unexpected actors: disaffected Republicans or independents crossing over to back the more centrist Democrat. With Curtis Sliwa running on the Republican line and Jim Walden floating a third-party bid, a splintered field could allow Mamdani to win with a mere third of the vote.
This never should have happened. But now it has. And the responsibility to stop it falls to the people of New York City. They must demand courage from their leaders, pressure Cuomo or Adams to step aside and reject the politics of division and extremism. A city of 8 million deserves better.
