Mamdani’s Moment?

New Yorkers head to the polls today to vote in primaries across the state – a few of which are shaping up to be a test of Zohran Mamdani’s political clout. New York City’s new mayor has endorsed left-wing candidates in three solidly Democratic districts inside the five boroughs, including challenges to two incumbent members of Congress.

In New York’s 10th Congressional District, two-term Rep. Dan Goldman is facing a spirited challenge from Brad Lander. The former New York City Comptroller, who finished up the track when running for mayor last year, now has Mamdani’s full-throated endorsement, as well as that of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the titular head of the nation’s Democratic Socialists.

Israel has been a flashpoint in this race. Goldman, who is Jewish, did not endorse Mamdani for mayor in 2025, in part because he felt Mamdani didn’t denounce antisemitism strongly enough. Lander, who is also Jewish, has attacked Goldman for being too supportive of Israel. And as Politico recently reported, though the American Israel Political Action Committee has officially stayed out of this race, the pro-Israel organization still looms large as a bogeyman in this campaign as it has in others around the country.

In New York’s 13th Congressional District, five-term incumbent Democrat Adriano Espaillat faces three challengers, including Mamdani-backed political organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier.

And in New York’s 7th Congressional District, an open seat created by the retirement of 17-term Rep. Nydia Velázquez pits Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso against state Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, who has the backing of both Mamdani and Sanders.

Another notable contest is taking place in New York’s 12th Congressional District, where eight people are running to replace the retiring Jerry Nadler. Candidates include professional Trump-hater George Conway and Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of former President John F. Kennedy. State Assemblyman Micah Lasher is considered the favorite, given his endorsements from Nadler, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Mamdani took a pass on endorsing in the 12th district, but he raised hackles over the weekend by quoting 1920s-era Italian communist Antonio Gramsci while comparing AIPAC to “monsters.” In a city that has been the scene of increasing anti-Jewish violence, the rhetoric frightened and alarmed many Jews. Chaim Steinmetz, a senior rabbi of the Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, termed Mamdani’s pitch “pure incitement.”

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on X:

“Whenever he gets the chance, Zohran Mamdani uses his public platform to attack the Jewish community and spread anti-Israel rhetoric. Mr. Mamdani, when you describe AIPAC as ‘monsters moving millions in dark money to preserve power,’ you are invoking some of the oldest and most blatant antisemitic tropes in history. The only real monster in this story is the hatred you continue to normalize.”

In many ways, this is an intramural struggle, and not only because whichever Democrats win Tuesday’s primary will be guaranteed victory in November. Democrats from outside New York City are paying attention to Mamdani’s rhetoric and his slate, many with growing alarm.

“Swap ‘AIPAC’ for ‘Jews’ and it’s the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theory in the books,” tweeted New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer. “That’s not criticizing a lobby. That’s laundering antisemitism from your podium as Mayor of a city with more than a million Jews. This bullshit is dangerous.”

So how much will Mamdani’s endorsement help his candidates – or hurt his own reputation? It’s hard to say. Two polls conducted around Mamdani’s 100-Day mark pegged his job approval at 43% and 48%, respectively. More recent data show his favorable rating among New York City residents between 48% and 61%.

Early voting began on June 13. The polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. By the end of the night, we’ll have a better sense of just how much political juice the current mayor has with voters in the Big Apple – and perhaps have been given a glimpse into the future of the 21st-century Democratic Party.