A new poll has indicated that Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor, leads among registered Jewish voters in New York City.
Conducted by GQR in collaboration with the Jewish advocacy organization New York Solidarity Network (NYSN), the survey included 800 Jewish voters and revealed that 37% support Mamdani’s candidacy.
In comparison, 25% of those surveyed back Mayor Eric Adams, 21% support former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and 14% back Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. The poll carries a margin of error of +/- 3.46%.
Despite this plurality support, there is considerable mistrust regarding Mamdani’s ability to adequately defend the Jewish community if elected.
The poll identified that 58% of Jewish voters are concerned that New York City would become less safe for Jews under Mamdani’s leadership.
Additionally, over half of the respondents, 51%, expressed the belief that Mamdani holds antisemitic views.
Sara Forman, Director of NYSN, noted that the organization sought to better understand the current sentiments of Jewish voters amid a highly contested race.
One significant finding from the poll was that 66% of those surveyed still view themselves as pro-Israel, contradicting the portrayal of the issue in other surveys, which were not as comprehensive.
Forman stated, “Israel is not a wedge issue for Jews as much as it’s being portrayed by other surveys that weren’t nearly as comprehensive as this.”
Mamdani has faced scrutiny for his refusal to categorically condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada.” This phrase has been interpreted by some as inciting violence against Jewish individuals, while others view it as a call for Palestinian liberation.
His criticisms of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the ongoing conflict in Gaza have further fueled accusations of antisemitism directed at him.
In response, Mamdani has stressed his commitment to engaging with Jewish community leaders, fostering open dialogue, and protecting all New Yorkers against hate and discrimination.
Mamdani’s spokesperson, Jeffrey Lerner, remarked, “Zohran holds the support of thousands of Jewish New Yorkers who trust him to make this city more affordable and to protect their safety.”
Lerner added that many Jewish voters are frustrated with how suffering in their community has been exploited by political figures, particularly by Cuomo and Adams.
The ongoing campaign sees Cuomo expressing concerns over Mamdani’s history regarding Israel, while Adams has labeled some of Mamdani’s rhetoric as antisemitic.
In response to these challenges, Adams has shifted his strategy to run as an independent candidate in November on the “EndAntisemitism” party line.
Antisemitism has emerged as a pivotal issue for the Jewish voter demographic, with three out of four participants in the NYSN poll voicing concern over antisemitism’s prevalence in New York City.
Of those surveyed, 42% consider it a “somewhat serious problem,” while 32% classify it as a “very serious problem.”
Furthermore, 63% believe that the phrase “globalize the intifada” should be labeled as antisemitic.
Although antisemitism remains a significant issue for many, the majority of surveyed individuals indicated that local concerns such as crime and affordability take precedence over issues related to Israel and antisemitism in the upcoming general election.
For Mamdani’s supporters, key factors influencing their decision to back him include his plans to tax the wealthy, expand affordable housing, and prioritize mental health resources over increased police presence to prevent crime.
Only 17% of Jewish voters who support Mamdani cite his stance on Israel, Palestinians, and the War in Gaza as a top-three decision-making factor.
A separate poll by Data for Progress and the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project highlighted that Mamdani’s support for Palestinian rights and willingness to criticize the Israeli government played a critical role in his success during the June Democratic primary, where he achieved a surprising victory over Cuomo.
The NYSN poll revealed that Mamdani garners most of his backing from younger, less observant Jewish voters, while older, more observant voters tend to favor Adams and Cuomo.
Regarding the safety of the Jewish community and combating antisemitism, the survey showed that 85% of respondents feel it is crucial for Mamdani to maintain a strong police presence outside synagogues during Jewish high holidays.
Furthermore, 83% believe it’s important for him to enhance city-wide initiatives aimed at reducing antisemitism, and 74% want him to uphold existing police policies to divert anti-Israel protests away from Jewish neighborhoods, synagogues, and schools.
Additionally, 74% of Jewish voters surveyed view it as critical for Mamdani to sustain current city funding for all Jewish nonprofit organizations.
Mamdani has indicated that he might consider retaining NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her position if elected.
Forman emphasized that while Mamdani leads in support among Jewish voters, a significant portion of this demographic remains opposed to his candidacy.
“The issue here is that it’s a divided field, so their loyalties are not with one sole candidate,” Forman noted. “The majority of them, though, when you add them up, 60% do not support Mamdani, so we’re not even close to being in a situation where the majority of the Jewish community supports Zohran Mamdani for mayor.”
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