Political parties are still in a daze and media talking heads are speechless to explain the series of upset victories in the June 23 New York primary elections. Candidates of political machines and apologists for Israeli genocide in Gaza took the brunt of the punishment from voters. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani supported and campaigned for three congressional candidates who took on incumbents on their own turf and won each battle. In his hometown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, found that his list of endorsed candidates mostly lost. Instead of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) money assuring a victory, this money proved to be an increasing political liability.
A clear trend is that many of the most vocal candidates against the Israeli genocide in Gaza won with a growing support of the Jewish vote, and especially the young Jewish vote. Congressional candidate Brad Lander, a frequent Mamdani surrogate, trounced incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman who was known for his unlimited support to Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu in arms, money, and political protection. Darializa Avila Chevalier, the political novice and doctoral student who was active in the Columbia University anti-genocide encampments, defeated incumbent AIPAC-financed Congressman Adriano Espaillat. The Chevalier victory party broke out in chants of “Free Palestine,” and was attended by Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Claire Valdez, also an ally of Mamdani, won with a large margin over Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for the open seat in New York’s 7th Congressional District. Valdez said at her victory party, “I will continue to call for Palestinian liberation. We will stand up to the genocide. We will refuse to abide by apartheid. And we will use our money to improve lives here instead of destroying them abroad.”
There were also many upsets in down-ballot elections. The Mamdani-supported Eli Northrup defeated Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay in a Manhattan state assembly district with a large Jewish population. In Queens, Palestinian-American activist Aber Kawas, again with Mamdani support, had an easy victory.
All of these victories are not in spite of Jewish votes, but because of Jewish votes. This was seen in the November race for mayor, where Jewish neighborhoods such as Park Slope voted 75.5% for Mamdani and only 21.6% for Cuomo; or Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, Greenpoint, Fort Greene, and areas of Brooklyn Heights where Mamdani received between 60% and 72% of the vote. These consistent figures are not a fluke, but a sea-change, and especially among young Jewish voters. As one supporter said, Jewish identity is not a lifestyle brand but a moral calling.
These victories on Tuesday were against seasoned politicians, in their home districts, and who all have weathered many political storms in the past. This was not a simple protest vote, but a search for a new direction. The Democratic establishment has been defeated for a second time, first by the Mamdami landslide in November, and now in June. This was seen across multiple districts, against a united opposition which included the governor, the House minority leader, and the Democratic machine.
A similar process is underway in the Republican Party, as indicated by Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene both saying they can no longer support the Republican Party.
