Opinion

With his election as mayor of New York increasingly likely, the Democratic candidate is willing to finesse every issue except his opposition to the existence of a Jewish state

(Oct. 17, 2025 / JNS) With less than a week until Election Day in New York City, it’s clear that the hopes for preventing the election of Zohran Mamdani to be the next mayor are dwindling. That means it’s time to stop pretending that it won’t happen. Instead, what is needed most now is a sober assessment of how Jewish residents of the five boroughs will be affected by having an openly antisemitic mayor of the greatest Jewish city outside of Israel.

I am moved to write this missive with tremendous trepidation and concern about our future in our beloved New York City.

During Barack Obama’s floundering re-election campaign in 2012, a strategy was formed that would ultimately rip the country apart. Knowing that the “unity” message of 2008 rang hollow after a few short years of his administration, Obama shifted tactics and created the “coalition of the dispossessed.” Basically, he proclaimed everyone to be victims and then told them he would be their savior. This mentality has gripped an entire generation and has made victimhood the most powerful political currency in America.

President Trump’s Leadership and A Nation's Resolve Bring Hostages Home

“G-d Bless the Peacemaker,” screamed the front-page headline from the Jerusalem Post, with the entire cover dedicated to a picture of President Donald Trump. After more than two years in captivity, the remaining living hostages are back home, as the Israel Defense Forces pull back to the predetermined ceasefire lines in Gaza.

In recent weeks, a clear and unexpected shift has emerged: Individuals who were once among Andrew Cuomo’s most vocal critics have begun recalibrating their positions—not to offer an explicit endorsement, but to provide strategic support at a pivotal moment. This development underscores a fundamental reality: The stakes in this election transcend personal loyalties and individual preferences. Curtis Sliwa remains a cherished ally and confidant within our community, and his ability to forge genuine connections with Jewish New Yorkers is unquestionable. Yet affection alone cannot substitute for a realistic path to victory. Those who truly understand what is at stake for the future of this city must acknowledge a blunt fact: Andrew Cuomo is the only viable option remaining.

With less than two weeks to go before this year’s election, New Yorkers are desperately trying to avoid the calamity that is Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani’s policies are so shortsighted and destructive that many fear the crime and poverty of the NYC of the 1970s and 1980s are about to return.