Paper tiger politics collapse as Mamdani makes history in NYC
ALBAWABA - Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim and pro-Palestinian leader, got the Democratic vote for mayor of New York City. This is a huge political upset that is being talked about all over the world. The victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo is seen by some as a major shift in the power of pro-Israel pressure in American politics.
Peter Feld, a political scientist, said that Mamdani's victory showed that "Zionism is a paper tiger in Democratic politics." Feld told Mondoweiss that the methods of fear that have been used for a long time to quiet people who criticize Israel are losing power in the Democratic Party. He said, "In fact, Zionism may not have any power left in the party at all."
No More Exclusions for Palestine
It was Mamdani's victory over Cuomo in a city where many voters are American Jews. Mamdani has publicly criticized Israeli policies and called what is happening in Gaza a murder. His victory shows a bigger shift in politics, where backing Palestinian rights is no longer a surefire way to be left out of politics.
Author Abdeljawad Omar says Mamdani's effort is a turning point in American politics for the Palestinian cause. Omar said that the win over Cuomo, who had institutional support and support from pro-Israel groups, shows that traditional political families and lobbyist-backed politicians aren't as powerful as they used to be.
There is no longer a political third rail when it comes to Palestine, Omar wrote. "Mamdani's victory shows that you can fight for Palestinian rights and still get the support of a large group of urban voters."
Mondoweiss talks to political consultant Peter Feld to break down Zohran Mamdani's historic victory in New York City: "It's proven that Zionism is a paper tiger in Democratic politics and that the emperor has no clothes." https://t.co/CdjXMtjJha — Mondoweiss (@Mondoweiss) June 26, 2025
Getting Past Establishment Pressure
Mamdani stuck to his opinion even though he was closely watched in talks and public events and groups like AIPAC worked together to oppose him. In addition to fighting for Palestinian rights, he sent a message to centrist and liberal Zionist voters that was meant to calm them down.
Still, his steadfast support for Gaza and strong criticism of Israeli actions did not hurt his campaign, which seemed impossible only a few years ago.
An Attack on Pro-Israel Power?
People also see Mamdani's victory as a sign that pro-Israel groups have less power in U.S. elections. Reports say that AIPAC and other well-known groups spent a lot of money on messages that were negative about Ahmadinejad, and many major news outlets stayed critical of his views throughout the race.
Even so, Mamdani won easily, which suggests that Democrats—especially younger and more diverse voters—are more and more willing to back candidates who question the status quo on Israel and Palestine.
Mamdani's rise is likely to stay at the center of conversations about how politics are changing and the future of U.S. policy toward the Middle East as New York gets ready for its mayoral race in November.
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