Early voting across New York State begins this Shabbos, continuing until November 2, with the last day to vote on November 4. The top contest on the ballot is for Mayor of New York City, which began with a crowded field earlier this year in which incumbent Eric Adams skipped the Democratic primary.
Running on the strength of affordability and motivation among the city’s Muslim, South Asian, and progressive voters, Astoria Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani bucked conventional wisdom by openly disparaging the State of Israel, calling its actions genocidal, its leader a war criminal, and refusing to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” which continues to inspire violent anti-Semitic incidents across the diaspora.
Mayoral Race
Recognizing that Mamdani had the momentum, his primary rivals Brad Lander and Adrienne Adams endorsed him on their ranked-choice ballots, contributing to Mamdani’s sizable margin of victory. The closest competitor in that primary, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, lacked the energy and visibility of the young socialist, his reputation shadowed by sexual harassment allegations and resentment over his Covid lockdown policies.
In the general election, Cuomo is running as an independent on the Fight and Deliver line, touting his experience in leadership as governor and his role as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Clinton in addressing housing affordability. While his role during the pandemic was criticized as heavy-handed, his ability to complete projects includes the redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport, the first three stations on the Second Avenue Subway, and the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge, which coincidentally carries the name of his father.
In a two-person contest, polls show that this Queens native could defeat Mamdani, but then there’s Curtis Sliwa on the Republican line – an activist known to all New Yorkers for his signature red beret, radio show, advocacy for animal rescue, and as the founder of the volunteer patrol group Guardian Angels.
Recognizing that Mamdani would win in a three-person race, a number of conservative voices, such as the New York Post editorial board and fellow radio host Sid Rosenberg, have called for Sliwa to drop out and endorse Cuomo. But he remains defiant about his place on the ballot. In last week’s mayoral debate, Sliwa landed verbal punches on Cuomo, calling him the “architect” and Mamdani the “apprentice” of liberal policies such as bail reform and closing Rikers Island. He noted that with President Trump already punishing the city by suspending funding for the Gateway Tunnel under the Hudson River and for the expansion of the Second Avenue Subway, it would be wise to have a mayor who can work with the White House rather than use City Hall as a protest pulpit.
“So, let’s be very clear. I am not dropping out. Under no circumstance. I’ve already been offered money to drop out; I said no,” Sliwa said on Tuesday while campaigning on the Upper West Side. “Distant from that, with threats against Nancy and [me], I now have to have armed security with me – former NYPD officers. Never had that in my life.”
Having survived an assassination attempt ordered by John A. Gotti, Sliwa remains defiant, with support from every Republican elected official in the city and every county party chair. For his most ardent supporters, perhaps victory is not the goal as much as sending a message that many New Yorkers not only oppose socialism, but they support its exact opposite on the political spectrum.
In addition to the three headliners, Eric Adams and Jim Walden also appear on the ballot, as they withdrew from the race after the deadline for removing their names had passed.
Public Advocate
Created as a watchdog of city agencies who can propose legislation in the Council but not vote on it, past Public Advocates included ambitious individuals using the role to demonstrate experience and propose policies as they strived for higher office.
The Democratic incumbent, Jumaane Williams, is a former Brooklyn Councilman whose legislative record is matched by his numerous civil disobedience arrests, including last month when he was cuffed alongside Comptroller Brad Lander as they protested ICE arrests of illegal immigrants in downtown Manhattan. In the primary earlier this year, he easily defeated Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar to keep his spot on the party line.
The Republican challenger for this position is Bronx resident Gonzalo Duran, an Iraq War veteran, nonprofit founder, and vice chair of the borough’s Conservative Party. His organization, Devil Dog USA, assists veterans in their return to civilian life. Last month, Duran visited Kew Gardens Hills, recognizing the Jewish community’s frustration with the city’s policies. He attended the 9/11 commemoration at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills alongside Curtis Sliwa and shook hands on Main Street in the days preceding Sukkos.
“In the past, my efforts to engage other Jewish communities didn’t always connect. No blame – sometimes outreach doesn’t land, and sometimes timing isn’t right,” he wrote. “This year was different. Community leaders reached out directly, opened their doors, and asked me to come. I did – gladly.”
Duran represents a growing demographic for the Republican Party: the inner-city working class, comprising Latinos and African Americans seeking fewer regulations on businesses, tougher policies on crime, and disavowal of enforced diversity programs. Under his leadership, young Republicans are stepping up to run for races at all levels of government across the city.
Comptroller
The city’s top finance official is also a position sought by candidates with higher aspirations. Incumbent Brad Lander is not running for reelection, having failed in his mayoral primary bid earlier this year. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, the Democratic nominee for Comptroller, is perhaps best known for supporting “City of Yes,” the policy of upzoning to increase the number of new residential units. In his current role, he identified sites for development and appointed community board members who support new construction.
A fluent Hebrew and Spanish speaker, the Washington Heights resident began his public career as a bilingual math and science middle school teacher in the South Bronx. Recognizing the lack of access that parents in that school had to financial services, he founded the nonprofit Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union. Levine first ran for City Council in 2001 but only won his seat in 2013, after which he ran for Borough President. Should he win, he would be the highest-ranking Jew in city government. However, it is unclear whether, under Mamdani as mayor, he would continue to be an outspoken defender of Israel or an apologist for his colleague.
The Republican contender for this office is Peter Kefalas, who was raised in Rego Park, the son of a Greek immigrant father who owned a coffee shop. He works as a sales consultant and, in his role as a party activist, protested the city’s placement of homeless shelters in residential areas.
“Crime, waste, corruption, defunding the police, subsidizing illegal aliens and illegal alien criminals – these are all things I am against,” he told The National Herald, a Greek immigrant newspaper. “We owe it to our children and grandchildren to at least try our best to save New York City before it is too late. If residents and businesses continue to leave New York City, the future looks dark.”
Queens Borough President
More than a cheerleader for the borough, this office contributes to policy decisions on development across Queens. Since taking office in 2020, Donovan Richards has overseen a feverish pace of housing development in downtown Far Rockaway and Jamaica, emphasizing the number of affordable units alongside amenities such as new schools and parks to serve new residents. Across the street from Citi Field, he celebrated the construction of a major league soccer stadium, highlighting its potential for job creation, culture, and tourism. With the ongoing $19 billion redevelopment of JFK Airport, Richards promoted job fairs in southeast Queens so that local residents would benefit directly from the borough’s global travel hub. Also in this corner of Queens, Richards provided funding for the new 116th Precinct in Rosedale.
For much of his term at Borough Hall – and in his previous role as Councilman for southeast Queens – he has been receptive to the concerns of the Jewish community, attending rallies and public events. However, his recent endorsement and campaigning alongside Zohran Mamdani are troubling, particularly his deflection of criticism of the anti-Israel mayoral contender as “Islamophobia.”
The Republican challenger is Henry “Ike” Ikezi, the son of Nigerian immigrants, who works in real estate and lives in Jamaica Estates. Having been a victim of burglaries, he shares his party’s tough-on-crime approach. Although not as vocal on the topic, he agrees with Richards that more housing needs to be built, arguing for more inspectors and staffers to be hired to approve permits for new development.
“My vision for Queens extends beyond housing, education, and safety. It encompasses economic empowerment for our small businesses, which are the backbone of our local economy,” he said earlier this year at a Queens Village Republican Club meeting. “I will advocate for policies that support entrepreneurs, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and provide resources to help businesses thrive. By investing in our local economy, we can create jobs, stimulate growth, and ensure that Queens remains a vibrant place to live and work.”
Like the party’s candidates for citywide office, Ikezi has reached out to the Queens Jewish community for support, recognizing that with many Democratic incumbents either endorsing or failing to condemn Mamdani, this could be the year for Republicans to pick up more votes.
City Council District 20
The Council district centered on downtown Flushing has always been a hive of political ambition, with multiple candidates appearing on the ballot in past races. This year, Democratic incumbent Sandra Ung is challenged by Joseph Chou of Asians United, Stephen Wang on the Patriot Party line, and Allan H. Wang (no relation) as the Conservative Party nominee.
When Ung ran for this office, she was known to many constituents for her previous role as a staffer for Rep. Grace Meng, focused on resolving constituent complaints. Although the Jewish population of her district is small, she has been receptive to Jewish concerns, earning the support of the Queens Jewish Alliance, which represents community activists. Tackling public safety, she secured funding to install security cameras in downtown Flushing and remove unlicensed vendors from crowded sidewalks. While Mamdani seeks to decriminalize “sex work,” Ung recognizes that prostitution harms women – who are often victims of human trafficking – and understands the frustration of residents wishing to remove this scourge from the streets.
“It is clear that this issue cannot be resolved easily, as traffickers quickly replace any sex workers who are removed,” Ung said in her State of the District address last December. “To truly address this crisis, we must focus on identifying, arresting, and prosecuting the organizations behind this horrific industry.”
Nassau County Executive
In contrast to the city, Republicans dominate the political scene on Long Island. In the past century, all but two of Nassau County’s Executives have been Republican. Incumbent Bruce Blakeman welcomed President Trump to Nassau Coliseum last year, as the crowd cheered their tough stance on illegal immigration – even as the party’s headliner accused Haitians of eating domestic pets. Perhaps a forgettable insult among many uttered by Trump, except that Nassau County has a sizable Haitian community in Elmont and Valley Stream. The county’s election results last year favored Trump but also narrowly awarded two congressional seats to the Democrats. A swing county whose diversity reflects the nation, Nassau County’s elections may not receive as much attention as the city mayoral race, but the results could foreshadow the upcoming congressional midterms.
Blakeman shares the county Republican line with incumbents Elaine Phillips for Comptroller, Anne Donnelly for District Attorney, and Maureen O’Connell for County Clerk.
Sensing popular opinion turning against Trump for his heavy-handed tactics on economic and social issues, County Legislator Seth Koslow is seeking to unseat Blakeman, arguing that his support for a casino on the site of Nassau Coliseum is not beneficial to surrounding communities and that his proposal for an armed citizens’ militia would not make Nassau safer. He notes that Nassau is already among the safest places to live in the state.
“People are concerned about their safety. And we have a militia that Bruce Blakeman is running, which is absurd,” the Merrick resident said. “That’s why I’m telling people, on day one, I’m getting rid of that militia. We don’t need it. It’s not safe.”
Koslow’s party colleagues on the countywide ballot are Wayne Wink for Comptroller, Nicole Aloise for District Attorney, and Joylette Williams for County Clerk.
Town Supervisor
The chief executive in the Town of Hempstead is the Town Supervisor. Earlier this year, Don Clavin stepped down from the role, with the Town Council quickly appointing their colleague John Ferretti to fill the seat. He is now running on the Republican line for a full term in this office. Democrats sued the town, arguing that the appointment was conducted in secret, violating the Open Meetings Law. Although a state judge ruled in favor of the Democrats, Ferretti can keep his seat for now and run in the election. He shares the Republican line with incumbent Kate Murray for Town Clerk.
His Democratic opponent, Joe Scianablo, has the résumé of a suburban candidate: a veteran of the Iraq War who later served in the NYPD before graduating law school and working as a prosecutor in Queens. His platform notes that Republicans running the town approved a 12.1 percent tax hike last year that included raises for themselves. He shares the Democratic line with Yveline Dalmacy, running for Town Clerk.
County Legislator
Our West Hempstead readers have a neighbor on the ballot: lifelong resident Moshe Hill, who is also the Republican columnist for this publication. Alongside his roles in the local Republican Party, Hill works at the County Board of Elections and is a member of the West Hempstead Community and Civic Association, relaying quality-of-life complaints to elected officials. The 5th Legislative District covers West Hempstead north of Eagle Avenue, Hempstead, Uniondale, and Roosevelt. The Democratic incumbent is Olena Nicks, whose civic experience includes volunteering with the Uniondale Fire Department, serving as its first woman captain, and as president of the Uniondale Public Library.
On the campaign trail, Hill made introductions in the Jewish community for Town Council candidate Jean-Baptiste Carelus, whose district covers West Hempstead. His civic roots include volunteering in the West Hempstead Fire Department and lecturing at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. He works in finance, managing portfolios and serving as an expert witness in financial litigation. Carelus is running for this seat against longtime Democratic incumbent Dorothy Goosby of Hempstead.
The Queens Jewish Link encourages readers to vote in every election, for every office on the ballot. Our strength comes from our votes!
