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| New York mayor-elect, Zohran Mandami (NPR) |
I am going to attempt a post-mortem on this election: why he
won, how he did it, what the next four years might look like, and what it could
mean for the future.
Is Mamdani an Antisemite?
The conventional wisdom says yes — based on his harsh
anti-Israel rhetoric. Yet a poll conducted just before the election showed that
40% of New York Jews supported him. Would Jews, regardless of their politics,
ever knowingly support an antisemite? Of course not.
What they support are Mamdani’s views on Israel, views
shared by many progressives and Palestinian sympathizers who believe Israel
committed genocide in Gaza. If that belief alone defines antisemitism, then
many Jews including some who proudly identify with their Jewish heritage (like
actor Mandy Patinkin) would fall under that label.
It’s also telling that the largest and most visible Orthodox
Jewish sect in the city, Satmar, endorsed Mamdani. Clearly, he is not seen by
all as a personal Jew-hater. His animus is directed not toward Jews as
individuals but toward Israel as a Jewish state. He feels perfectly comfortable
around progressive Jews who share his worldview.
Why He Won
Mamdani’s anti-Israel views had little to do with his
victory. His success stems from his charisma, populist appeal, and focus on
bread-and-butter issues that resonate with everyday New Yorkers.
The cost of living in New York has skyrocketed. A typical
middle-income earner struggles to make ends meet as taxes, fees, and housing
costs continue to rise. Mamdani spoke directly to these frustrations, promising
free buses, strict rent controls, and government-run grocery stores offering
food at lower prices than for-profit competitors.
Young voters — especially burdened by the city’s high costs
— were drawn to these promises, which no other candidate addressed so boldly.
They turned out in record numbers.
Mamdani also benefited from weak opponents. His main
challenger was a disgraced former governor, forced to resign over sexual
misconduct allegations. A figure devoid of charisma or credibility. Add to that
public frustration with a Republican president who promised to lower prices but
instead raised them through tariffs on imported goods, and Mamdani’s path to
victory was clear.
For most voters, Israel wasn’t even on the radar. They saw a
dynamic young populist running against a tainted establishment figure — and it
wasn’t a contest.
What It Means for New York Jews
Should Jews in the city with the world’s largest Jewish
population be concerned about the next four years? Absolutely. But not because
Mamdani will target them directly. He won’t risk confirming accusations of
antisemitism by ignoring attacks on Jews.
The real concern is indirect: a surge in anti-Israel
activism and protests that Mamdani will likely endorse, if not attend himself.
Some of these demonstrations may turn violent. This is where the Jewish
community — and all fair-minded New Yorkers — must remain vigilant.
If clashes erupt between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian
protesters, how the mayor responds will be crucial. The ADL has already pledged
heightened vigilance against antisemitism; others must do the same. Expect the
anti-Israel fervor to spread to other major cities, especially in academia,
where Mamdani’s sympathies will surely find fertile ground. That’s where the
true danger of his mayoralty lies.
The Broader Political Impact
Mamdani’s victory also raises questions about the direction
of the Democratic Party. Progressives already wield disproportionate influence
within it, and now one of their own governs the nation’s largest city. Will the
party tilt further left? Will figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez become the
new face of Democratic leadership — perhaps even a presidential candidate with
Mamdani as a running mate?
I doubt it. In fact, I suspect the opposite. The American
electorate at its core is not composed of ‘New York liberals’. It is moderate,
pragmatic, and centrist. The swing voters who decide national elections are not
ideological purists but practical thinkers. That’s how we’ve had both Obama and
Trump — two-term presidents from opposite parties. Americans vote for competence
and results, not dogma.
The Coming Reckoning
Mamdani’s utopian promises will soon collide with economic
reality. There will be no lasting free buses, and certainly no government-run
grocery stores. If any of his ‘free’ programs do materialize, they’ll require
massive tax hikes. Not just on big business but on ordinary consumers, who will
feel it at the checkout counter.
If large corporations face the kind of tax burdens needed to
fund his socialist programs, they’ll leave the city — and take much of its tax
base with them. That will trigger deficits, layoffs, and service breakdowns.
One can easily imagine garbage piling up in the streets when the money runs
out.
As noble as socialism may sound, it has failed everywhere
it’s been tried — and New York will be no exception. The only question is how
long it takes for the pain to set in.
Ironically, Mamdani’s election may turn out to be a gift to
the Republican Party. By the midterms, frustration with his failed policies
could produce a landslide of protest votes against Democrats nationwide.
The next four years in New York may be painful. But they
could also mark the end of the socialist experiment in American politics. When
the promises collapse under their own weight, voters may rediscover the
political centrism that has guided this country — more or less successfully —
since the end of World War II.
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