From Zion to Justice: Why Young Jews Backed Mamdani in NYC’s Political Earthquake

The 2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary marked a historic political shift. At the heart of this transformation was the unexpected surge in support for Zohran Mamdani, a progressive politician who openly criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza. What stood out most was the number of young Jewish voters who helped propel Mamdani to victory—challenging decades of political norms and reframing the American Jewish political identity. This article explores the nuanced and evolving voting patterns among Jewish voters, drawing insights from the campaign, media commentary, and data from the primary.

#1. Geraldo Rivera’s View: “Sick of the War”

Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera weighed in on Mamdani’s surprising popularity among Jewish voters, observing that many young Jews are simply “sick of the war” in Gaza. His statement captured a generational mood—one that is increasingly disillusioned with perpetual conflict and is embracing anti-war political narratives (Rivera, 2025; X.com).

For these voters, Mamdani’s alignment with peace, human rights, and Palestinian justice resonated far more than traditional loyalty to Israel or its political establishment. Rivera’s remark became a rallying summary of this emerging generational ethic.

#2. Reframing Jewish Identity and Political Loyalty

Historically, Jewish voters in New York—home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel—have maintained strong institutional support for Israel. However, Mamdani’s win “exposes a deep erosion in the political power of organized American Jewry,” according to one analysis (eJewish Philanthropy, 2025).

The erosion isn't about numbers—it’s ideological. Many young Jews no longer see unwavering support for Israel as a requirement of Jewish identity. Instead, they embrace a universal human rights framework that includes Palestinian liberation. Mamdani’s messaging, including support for the slogan “globalize the Intifada,” was interpreted not as violent incitement but as solidarity with oppressed groups (Wikipedia, 2025; Wikipedia).

#3. Local Issues Over Foreign Policy

Mamdani ran a campaign focused on economic justice: universal childcare, transit equity, housing affordability, and rent freezes. For younger voters—including Jewish millennials and Gen Z—these were urgent, tangible priorities (The Guardian, 2025; The Guardian).

Unlike their parents or grandparents, younger Jews did not base their vote on a candidate’s stance on Israel. Instead, they viewed Mamdani’s platform through the lens of day-to-day survival in a prohibitively expensive city. This suggests that the Jewish vote is not just about ethnic or religious affinity—but about pragmatic concerns shared across demographic lines.

#4. Jewish Voting Patterns in the 2025 Primary

Leading up to the election, more than 7,000 Jewish New Yorkers registered as Democrats—many switching from independent affiliations. This surge, described as a “sleeping giant,” was partly motivated by fear of rising antisemitism following the Gaza escalation in 2023 (New York Post, 2025).

Despite efforts from the Cuomo campaign to brand Mamdani as dangerous and antisemitic, polls showed that 20% of Jewish voters still backed him (The Daily Beast, 2025). This support came largely from younger, secular, or progressive Jewish constituencies.

#5. Orthodox Bloc Voting Remains Influential

While progressive Jews backed Mamdani, Orthodox Jewish voters remained an influential bloc. These voters often cast coordinated votes based on rabbinical endorsements, and their concerns were less about Gaza and more about city governance and religious autonomy (Forward, 2025).

Nonetheless, Mamdani made active outreach efforts—even in Hasidic communities—via Yiddish-language campaigns and direct engagement. His campaign demonstrated that he could respect community-specific concerns while remaining firm on human rights issues.

#6. Identity, Faith, and Political Allegiance

Mamdani’s campaign was not without controversy. Critics—especially from conservative Jewish circles and right-wing commentators—questioned the Jewishness of his supporters, arguing that no “true Jew” could back someone calling for Intifada (The Daily Beast, 2025). Yet his defenders pointed to Mamdani’s record: he never promoted violence and consistently advocated for the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

The backlash revealed a deep divide over what it means to be both Jewish and politically progressive in America today.

#7. Summary Table: Jewish Voter Trends

#8. Conclusion

The 2025 NYC Democratic primary marked a critical turning point in Jewish political alignment. While conservative media framed Mamdani’s support as a betrayal of Jewish identity, the reality is more complex. Younger Jewish voters are reimagining what it means to be politically engaged, prioritizing local issues and human rights over old foreign policy orthodoxies. This generational shift is not a repudiation of Jewishness—it is a reassertion of its ethical foundations in a modern context.

#8. Bibliography

• AP News. (2025). How Democrats in America’s most Jewish city embraced a critic of Israel for New York mayor. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/39e3a3df4ce9d05c090a78ba7a1eb48b
• Rivera, G. (2025). Comment on Jewish voters backing Mamdani. Retrieved from https://x.com/GeraldoRivera
• eJewish Philanthropy. (2025). When Anti-Zionism Wins: What Mamdani’s Rise Reveals About the Future of Jewish Political Power. Retrieved from https://ejewishphilanthropy.com
• The Guardian. (2025). What Democrats can learn from Zohran Mamdani. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com
• The Daily Beast. (2025). Fox Host Questions Faith of Any Jews Supporting Zohran Mamdani. Retrieved from https://www.thedailybeast.com
• New York Post. (2025). Thousands of Jewish voters register as Dems to vote in NYC mayoral primary. Retrieved from https://nypost.com
• Forward. (2025