Following the success of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s primary picks, some on the left are finally admitting the truth about their momentum.
The sudden rise in socialist candidates breezing through elections in New York City has critics concerned, with some claiming that the rise in anti-Israel popularity is to blame. While this accusation may have been rejected in the past, State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs admitted that the issue had “an impact” on the elections of “Darializa Avila Chevalier and former city Comptroller Brad Lander who upset incumbent Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman,” the New York Post reported.
“Both Espaillat and Goldman backed the Jewish state — which may have motivated young activist liberals with pro-Palestinian views who have staunchly opposed Israel’s military action in Gaza,” the outlet noted in its exclusive report.
On Sunday, Jacobs agreed that “activists” came out and voted against the pro-Israel candidates.
“Yes. I do think the Israel-Palestinian issue had an impact in the election. It hurt establishment Democrats,” he said. “There are people who may have voted against Espaillat and Goldman because of it. It was important to the activists who came out and voted.”
But while activists may have decided the primary, it wasn’t because they were the overwhelming majority. According to the Post, “only about 17% of party voters citywide” participated in the election.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) responded to the primary victories in a scathing post on X.
Look:
On Tuesday night in NYC, a movement built on antisemitic rhetoric won three congressional primaries.
Read our statement below. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/hr3eSSH6m5
— ADL (@ADL) June 26, 2026
“On Tuesday night in NYC, a movement built on antisemitic rhetoric won three congressional primaries. At the DSA victory party, attendees chanted, ‘From the river to the sea,’ as Mayor Mamdani moved through the crowd in jubilation. This is a slogan that calls for the elimination of the Jewish state, and it was celebrated by the mayor and those in the crowd,” the organization wrote.
“For many Jewish New Yorkers, this sends a chilling message. We’re witnessing candidates succeed not in spite of their demonizing rhetoric against the Jewish community and the Jewish state, but because of it. When leaders cheer slogans that dehumanize Jews, it does not stay at a victory party. It bleeds into schools, neighborhoods and daily life, putting Jewish families, children and communities at risk,” they continued.
“ADL will continue to expose and speak out against antisemitism wherever it appears and demand that our leaders confront hate, not normalize it.”
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