The Democrat Party is a complete mess right now. Infighting seems to be running rampant.
And war has broken out among Democrats after this governor hits a top Leftist with a scathing rebuke.
Zohran Mamdani Faces Criticism Over Antisemitism Concerns in NYC Mayoral Race
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a prominent Democrat, has sharply criticized New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, for not addressing the “blatantly antisemitic” rhetoric from some of his supporters. In an interview with the Jewish Insider on Wednesday, Shapiro, a fellow Democrat, emphasized the need for moral clarity in leadership.
“You have to speak and act with moral clarity, and when supporters of yours say things that are blatantly antisemitic, you can’t leave room for that to just sit there,” he said. “You’ve got to condemn that.”
Mamdani, a socialist state lawmaker from Queens, stunned the political establishment with his upset victory in last month’s Democratic mayoral primary. His campaign, which energized many New Yorkers, has also sparked intense controversy due to his vocal criticism of Israel.
Shapiro acknowledged Mamdani’s ability to galvanize voters but criticized the candidate for allowing “far too much space for extremists” to either use his words or go unchallenged when making inflammatory statements. “He seemed to run a campaign that excited New Yorkers,” Shapiro noted, but added that Mamdani failed to confront the extremist rhetoric tied to his base.
The backlash against Mamdani has intensified as critics accuse him of endorsing antisemitic views through his support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Mamdani has consistently rejected these accusations, asserting that criticism of Israel’s policies does not equate to hatred of Jewish people.
He has pledged to combat antisemitism if elected mayor, but his refusal to denounce the phrase “Globalize the intifada”—a phrase embraced by some anti-Israel groups—has fueled further criticism.
Following his primary win, Mamdani met with Jewish elected officials and has since stated he discourages the use of the “Globalize the intifada” slogan. However, there have been concerns from prominent Democrats like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who has called on Mamdani to unequivocally “denounce it.”
In a WNYC interview last month, Gillibrand stressed the importance of strong leadership in a city as diverse as New York, home to the nation’s largest Jewish population. “As a leader of a city as diverse as New York City with 8 million people, as the largest Jewish population in the country, he should denounce it. And that’s it. Period,” she said.
Mamdani’s rise has exposed deep fault lines within the Democratic Party, with some leaders hesitant to embrace the radical socialist.
New York’s top Democratic figures—Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries—have so far declined to endorse Mamdani, signaling potential unease about his polarizing positions. This reluctance reflects a growing tension as the party grapples with balancing its progressive wing against its more moderate, pro-Israel factions.
The unease among Democrats extends beyond the party’s leadership. Some rank-and-file Democrats, particularly those in New York’s Jewish communities, have expressed discomfort with Mamdani’s rhetoric and the company he keeps.
While his campaign has inspired younger, progressive voters with its vision for economic and social justice, others worry that his stance on Israel and failure to swiftly condemn inflammatory rhetoric could alienate key constituencies in a city known for its diversity.
For some Democrats, Mamdani’s refusal to fully distance himself from controversial slogans and supporters raises questions about his ability to lead a city with complex intergroup dynamics.
As Mamdani campaigns toward the general election, he faces the daunting task of unifying a fractured party while addressing the concerns of critics who see his positions as a liability.
With the mayoral race heating up, his ability to bridge these divides—or his failure to do so—could define not only his candidacy but also the future direction of New York City’s Democratic Party.
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