STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Zohran Mamdani receives endorsements from Brad Lander, Michael Blake, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and other NYC political figures.

• Critics point to his refusal to support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and his stance on Assembly Holocaust resolutions.

• Mamdani has repeated slogans like “from the river to the sea” and “globalize the Intifada,” which many associate with antisemitic and violent undertones.

• He has aligned with controversial influencers and supports a far-left policy agenda, including defunding the police.

As New York’s political engine whirs into gear for the upcoming mayoral race, one candidate in particular — Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani — has ignited fierce conversation not just for his platform, but for the long list of political figures now rallying behind him. What began as a grassroots progressive campaign has evolved into something far more charged, especially as scrutiny grows over Mamdani’s long-standing positions on Israel and his past rhetoric.

A series of endorsements — from both local and national figures — have given Mamdani’s campaign a dramatic boost, but not without controversy. City Comptroller Brad Lander and former Assemblyman Michael Blake, both mayoral hopefuls in their own right, have publicly thrown their support behind him. Nationally, Senator Bernie Sanders added his name to the list this week, alongside his protégé Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, further solidifying Mamdani’s alignment with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Other notable local names — Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Rep. Nydia Velásquez, state Senator John Liu, and New York Attorney General Letitia James — have also included Mamdani among their top choices. To some, these endorsements signal a growing acceptance of a bold, unapologetically leftist vision for the city. But to others, they raise red flags about where certain candidates and officeholders truly stand on key moral and international issues.

What’s at the heart of this storm is not merely Mamdani’s platform — a familiar mix of democratic socialism, housing reform, and police divestment — but rather the deep and unresolved tension within New York’s political culture surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict. Mamdani’s critics frequently point to his history of activism, beginning in college, where he became known for his outspoken opposition to the Israeli state. More recently, his reluctance to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, and his refusal to support legislative measures condemning the Holocaust, have become focal points in public discourse.

Equally polarizing is Mamdani’s rhetoric, which some argue crosses the line into dangerous territory. In recent public appearances and online discussions, he has invoked slogans such as “from the river to the sea” and “globalize the Intifada.” Though Mamdani claims these statements are expressions of Palestinian solidarity, many in the Jewish community — and beyond — view them as calls for violence and a denial of Israel’s right to exist.

His participation in a friendly interview with controversial internet personality Hasan Piker has further added to the narrative that Mamdani is comfortable operating in politically extreme spaces. To his supporters, this is a sign of authenticity and ideological commitment. To his detractors, it is part of a pattern that is deeply troubling.

While progressive endorsements can often give campaigns a needed jolt, Mamdani’s case underscores the reality that backing comes with baggage — for both candidate and endorser. For some voters, the decision by figures like Brad Lander, Michael Blake, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to support Mamdani will raise new questions about where they draw the line on matters of antisemitism and international justice.

As New Yorkers evaluate a crowded mayoral field, the endorsements surrounding Mamdani are serving as a litmus test for political values and priorities. Whether these alliances will help or harm his chances remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this mayoral race is not just about city budgets and transit plans — it’s becoming a mirror of national ideological battles that are now being fought on the streets of New York.

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