Zohran Mamdani achieved a historic political upset by winning election to a backyard-sized New York City mayoral race on November 4th, 2023. His victory is big news not just for Milwaukee, but the future of local governance. It can and must have a deeper impact on U.S. debates on foreign policy, particularly on Israel-Palestine. New York City currently is home to the largest Jewish population of any city in the United States, estimated at 1.4 million. Mamdani’s election represents a historic turning point, linking local political conversations to international ones.
Mamdani’s unexpected ascendance to the mayor’s office is phenomenal. This accomplishment is truly remarkable, given that New York has the second-largest Jewish population anywhere on Earth, after Tel Aviv. During his entire campaign, Mamdani unapologetically confronted the war in Gaza, correctly describing what Israel is doing as genocide. He cautioned against the way the U.S. government funds these initiatives. Most importantly, though, he illustrated the complex relationship between American foreign policy and the personal issues faced by Jewish New Yorkers.
His principled, unapologetic activism on behalf of equal rights for all people living in Israel has struck a chord—both figuratively and literally—with a uniquely diverse electorate. Mamdani’s position has already sparked interest from other progressive challengers in New York City congressional primaries. These candidates are ready to have the hard but necessary conversations on Israel, courageously pushing back on conventional political wisdom when it comes to U.S.-Israel relations.
Mamdani’s most serious competition in the mayoral race is ex-Gov. He is attempting to undermine Mamdani’s electoral campaign by hurling groundless allegations of antisemitism. Mamdani’s rebuttal to these claims was powerful. He proved that even among Jewish voters, a full one-third would rather fight for something more than just defending the Israeli government, but fighting for affordability and social justice.
Mamdani’s commitment to affordability has long been a central tenet of his platform. And he is committed to addressing the affordability crisis impacting so many New Yorkers’ pocketbooks. This effort further demonstrates his deep commitment to hopeful progressive policies that resonate with Americans of all backgrounds. He has mixed his economic agenda with a willingness to confront difficult international matters. That strategy has allowed him to create a pretty unique political persona in the city.
After his election, Mamdani proved true to form on the issue of Israel. He famously stated that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit New York, further solidifying his position as a politician unafraid to challenge established norms. This perhaps hyperbolic declaration goes to show his commitment and willingness to serve as a global leader for human rights and justice. Simultaneously, he artfully conducts the symphony of local governance.
Mamdani further beefed up his political horoscope when he met with then-Pres. Mamdani meeting with now-discharged former President Donald Trump at the White House. That unexpected cooperative meeting was held on November 21. The meeting has caused controversy, considering the large and opposing political beliefs of both leaders. It’s a perfect illustration of Mamdani’s approach of bridging divides. He reaches out and gets business and community leaders at the table, left and right, Democrat or Republican.
Mamdani’s political journey is further documented in his book titled “Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments.” In this piece, he vividly describes his decades-long devotion to social justice and work to oppose repressive regimes. His experiences and the lessons learned depicted in this excellent book have shaped his philosophy towards governance and international relations.