Republicans cite Mamdani and rising antisemitism in push to bring NY Jews to the GOP

New York Republicans launch campaign to court Jewish Democrats, highlighting rising antisemitism and the election of Zohran Mamdani in their appeals.

By World Israel News Staff

The New York State Republican Party has launched a statewide advertising campaign urging Jewish voters to switch parties, seeking to capitalize on growing tensions between parts of the Jewish community and an increasingly influential anti-Israel wing of the Democratic Party.

The campaign, announced Wednesday, features an open letter from state Republican chairman Ed Cox and will appear in Jewish newspapers, on social-media platforms and in areas of New York with substantial Jewish populations.

“The New York State Republican Party stands with you. Unequivocally,” Cox wrote.

The advertisement directs readers to a website where they can register as Republicans or change their party affiliation. Its central message to Jewish Democrats is: “You have a home with us.”

Cox focused much of the appeal on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and longtime opponent of Israel who supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

The Republican chairman denounced Mamdani for referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its supporters as “monsters” during a June speech attacking the pro-Israel organization’s spending in Democratic congressional primaries.

Cox called the remarks the “worst kind of antisemitism” and accused Democratic leaders of legitimizing Mamdani despite his record on Israel.

The letter specifically criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for endorsing Mamdani, while accusing Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of failing to confront him.

The campaign follows widespread criticism of Mamdani’s speech from Jewish organizations and political figures, including some of his own supporters.

More than 700 rabbis from Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Reconstructionist congregations signed a letter demanding an apology. The rabbis argued that Mamdani’s language evoked longstanding accusations that Jews use hidden money and political influence to manipulate governments.

“Mamdani’s words invoke a familiar story about Jewish power, Jewish money and Jewish manipulation of public life,” the letter said.

Mamdani has refused to retract the remarks. He said he was criticizing AIPAC as a political organization rather than targeting Jews and argued that the group had spent heavily to defeat candidates seeking to end US support for Israel’s military operations.

The Republican campaign also highlighted the recent Democratic primary victories of three Mamdani-backed congressional candidates: former New York City comptroller Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier.

All three have sharply criticized Israel and accused it of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel rejects the allegation, saying it targets Hamas and takes measures to limit civilian casualties while operating in an urban environment where terrorists embed themselves among civilians.

Chevalier has faced particular criticism over her participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration held on October 8, 2023, one day after Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 others.

The Democratic primary victories demonstrated Mamdani’s growing influence over New York politics and the increased strength of the Democratic Socialists of America. Two pro-Israel members of Congress were defeated in the primaries.

Cox accused Mamdani and the DSA of making opposition to Israel a test for acceptance within the emerging Democratic left. He referred to the movement as “modern-day Brownshirts,” drawing a comparison to the Nazi Party’s paramilitary organization.

The New York Democratic Party dismissed the Republican appeal as hypocritical.

State Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs pointed to a leaked group chat involving members of the New York Young Republican Club, in which participants reportedly praised Adolf Hitler, joked about gas chambers and used racist, antisemitic and homophobic language.

“That comes from the party whose Young Republicans wrote in published messages that they revered Hitler,” Jacobs said.

The state Republican organization moved to distance itself from the scandal after the messages were published. The Young Republicans chapter was subsequently dissolved, and Republican officials condemned the contents of the chat.

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