Full Breakdown
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Standing Among Jewish Voters Remains Low After Four Months
5/4/2026, 2:28:18 AM
Poll Findings on Mayor Mamdani’s Performance Among NYC Jewish Voters
A poll of 665 Jewish NYC voters (Feb 17-28, 2026; margin ±3.7 %) found 58 % rate Mamdani’s performance “poor” or “fair,” versus 32 % “good” or “excellent.” He secured 26 % of the Jewish vote in 2025. Eighty-two percent worry about rising antisemitism, and 58 % link it to anti-Zionism normalization. Eighty-four percent backed a council proposal for safe perimeters around houses of worship, while 61 % say his refusal to condemn “globalize the Intifada” emboldened pro-Hamas protesters. There were 143 hate crimes Jan-Mar 2026, an 11.7 % rise, with over 55 % targeting Jews.
Background and Recent Actions
Mayor Mamdani won the 2025 election with 26 % of the Jewish electorate. He has declined to affirm the community’s connection to Israel, will not march in May 31’s Celebrate Israel Parade, and revoked executive orders on antisemitism and campus protests, drawing Zionist criticism.
Key Figures and Organizations
Key actors are Mayor Zohran Mamdani; The Jewish Majority led by Jonathan Schulman; Phylisa Wisdom, director of Office to Combat Antisemitism; Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue; and 1,100 congregational leaders who signed the open letter.
Official Statements & Responses
Mamdani said he is “deeply committed to protecting Jewish New Yorkers” and to an “absolute rejection of antisemitism.” Wisdom emphasized the priority to build relationships across Jewish communities and a municipal antisemitism-combat plan. Schulman called the poll a “wake-up moment.”
Criticism & Opposition
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch warned Mamdani’s rhetoric “encourages and exacerbates hostility toward Judaism and Jews.” The letter signed by 1,100 leaders condemned “rising anti-Zionism.” Critics noted his revocation of antisemitism and his buffer-zone veto.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When you look at these fundamental questions of Jewish safety and Mamdani not being in sync with the Jewish community, I think there is a question of where those approval ratings would sit today,” — Jonathan Schulman, Executive Director, The Jewish Majority
- “encourage and exacerbate hostility towards Judaism and Jews,” — Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, Senior Rabbi, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
- “He also shares the concerns many Jewish New Yorkers have about the rise of antisemitism,” — Phylisa Wisdom, Director, Office to Combat Antisemitism
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Mamdani’s Jewish-vote share—26 % (Forward), 31 % (Israel National News), and roughly one-third (JTA exit polling). The poll preceded his veto of a school-buffer-zone bill, which may affect later approval. Sponsorship by an advocacy group and varying reliability scores also limit certainty.
What’s Next
Mamdani is not slated to march in the May 31 Celebrate Israel Parade. His administration continues drafting a municipal antisemitism-combat plan and monitoring proposals for additional buffer-zone legislation. Ongoing dialogue with Jewish leaders suggests further scrutiny of his policies.
