Far-left Jewish group IfNotNow endorses Mamdani for NYC mayor

The far-left Jewish activist group IfNotNow endorses New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a harsh critic of Israel, in his run for New York City mayor.

IfNotNow and its New York City chapter, IfNotNow NYC, say in a joint statement, “The endorsement is in recognition of Mamdani’s commitment to fighting for a city that is more livable, more affordable, and safer for all New Yorkers as well as his deeply-held commitment to the equality, freedom, and safety for all Palestinians and Israelis.”

The statement also applauds Mamdani’s “commitments to pushing back against the Trump regime’s authoritarian agenda.”

Activists with the group will canvas for Mamdani’s campaign and the members will train progressive Jews “to have difficult conversations with members of their own Jewish communities who are still unsure how they will vote in November,” the statement says.

“As the Trump administration ratchets up its attacks on our cities and our neighbors, we need political leadership who will fight back and put forward a bold vision that works for all of us,” says IfNotNow head Morriah Kaplan. “Zohran Mamdani embodies shared safety for Jewish, Muslim, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and Palestinians and Israelis. This is how we defeat the Trump regime’s agenda: fighting for all of us, not rolling over in the face of authoritarianism.”

Mamdani caused repeated controversies with his rhetoric about Israel during the primary campaign, particularly his defense of the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which he has since said he would “discourage,” without condemning the slogan. He has identified in the past as an anti-Zionist.

He won a stunning upset in the Democratic party primary in July and is the heavy favorite to win the general election in November.

Mamdani is divisive among Jewish voters. He is the leading candidate among Jews in the four-way race, with around 37 percent support, according to a July poll by the pro-Israel New York Solidarity Network. That figure is similar to his support among the non-Jewish population.

While 60% of Jews are opposed to Mamdani, their support is divided among the other candidates — New York City Mayor Eric Adams, former governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Slightly more than half of the city’s Jews believe Mamdani is antisemitic, and 58% believe the city will be less safe for Jews if Mamdani is elected, the poll found.

Far-left groups like IfNotNow, Jews for Economic and Racial Justice, and the anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace have backed Mamdani, while Zionist Jewish groups have rallied against him.