(TJV) A leading contender in the New York City mayoral race has a long record of anti-Israel activism, raising concerns that the city’s historically strong support for the Jewish state could be at risk, The Algemeiner reports.

Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly and a candidate for mayor, has consistently placed opposition to Israel at the center of his political agenda. According to The Algemeiner, Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has supported legislation targeting Israel and has described its military operations in Gaza as “genocide.”

A recent poll conducted by the Honan Strategy Group from Feb. 22-23 places Mamdani in second place with 12 percent of the vote, while former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo leads the race with 38 percent.

In 2021, Mamdani publicly endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to economically and diplomatically isolate Israel—a stance that has been widely criticized by pro-Israel advocates. He asserted on social media that support for BDS was growing in New York City, stating, “The tide is turning. The fight for justice is here. The moment is now.” That same year, Mamdani also called for barring New York lawmakers from visiting Israel, insisting that “every elected [official] must be pressured to stand with Palestinians,” The Algemeiner noted.

His opposition to Israel continued into 2023, when he introduced the “Not on our dime!: Ending New York Funding of Israeli Settler Violence Act.” The legislation aimed to block charities from using tax-deductible donations to support organizations in Judea and Samaria. Mamdani justified the measure by accusing Israel of “war crimes” against Palestinians and dismissed critics by claiming his proposal reflected the views of “most New Yorkers.”

Following the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023—the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust—Mamdani issued a statement condemning “Netanyahu’s declaration of war” and warning that Israel would use the attack as an excuse to carry out a second “Nakba.” Days later, he escalated his criticism of Israel’s military response, asserting, “We are on the brink of a genocide of Palestinians in Gaza right now,” The Algemeiner reports.

In January 2024, Mamdani pushed for New York City to halt funding to Israel, claiming that “Voters oppose their tax dollars funding a genocide.”

As The Algemeiner has highlighted, Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a far-left organization that has long been critical of Israel. The DSA intensified its anti-Israel rhetoric during the ongoing war in Gaza, blaming Israel’s policies for Hamas’ October 7 attack and organizing protests in support of Palestine. In April 2024, the DSA’s international committee went as far as defending Iran’s “right to self-defense” against Israel.

The organization has also expressed support for Hamas, referring to it as a “resistance” movement rather than a terrorist group. In March 2024, the DSA criticized progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after she condemned Hamas, arguing that Palestinians have a “right to defend against occupation.”

With Mamdani’s rising political profile, The Algemeiner notes that his track record has heightened concerns within New York’s Jewish community, which fears that his election could shift the city’s traditionally strong alliance with Israel.