Three insurgent candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani won competitive congressional primaries in New York this week, with Israel emerging as a defining issue in each race. Claire Valdez triumphed over Antonio Reynoso in New York's 10th congressional district, while two other Mamdani-endorsed candidates also prevailed. The results have prompted discussion within the Democratic Party about how to navigate tensions over U.S. policy toward Israel and Gaza.
The outcomes reflect broader divisions within the party that have intensified since the war in Gaza began during President Joe Biden's administration. Mamdani, who sharply criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for defending what he called "a status quo of immorality" in Gaza, argued that New York should help shape Democrats' national identity. "When does the race for 2028 begin?" Mamdani asked at a campaign event last week with his slate of candidates. "It starts now."
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and pro-Palestinian supporters point to the primary results as evidence that voters are demanding a change in U.S. policy toward Israel. Brad Lander, who defeated Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th congressional district race despite both candidates being Jewish, called the war in Gaza a genocide. "Our party needs to admit that Joe Biden's 'hug Bibi' strategy was a catastrophic mistake," Lander said in his victory speech. "We cannot keep paying for Netanyahu's wars with our tax dollars. Democratic voters are saying this, loud and clear."
Varun Venkatesh, a 27-year-old Brooklyn resident who voted for Valdez, described Israel policy as "a good litmus test" for candidates. He said he supported Valdez over Reynoso because she had "a clear and more consistent stance" on the Palestinian cause.
Ari Rassouli, another voter in the district, said incumbent Rep. Goldman's views on Israel were among her reasons for opposing him. Describing the war as a genocide, she said "a candidate that is in support of that has no place in our democracy at all."
Lander acknowledged to reporters that Israel was among the top issues alongside affordability and immigration. He described conversations with Jewish voters who feel anxiety about current times while holding values of equality and dignity.
What the Right Is Saying
Moderate Democrats and party strategists warned that embracing more critical positions on Israel could expose candidates to Republican attacks in competitive races. Matt Bennett, who leads the centrist Democratic group Third Way, said some in Mamdani's camp have embraced "a new level of extremism." He argued that Republicans are skilled at weaponizing fringe positions against mainstream candidates.
"The Israel question has become defining," Bennett said, adding that he worries progressive stances could jeopardize outreach to independent voters. His organization has frequently criticized what it characterizes as positions that alienate swing voters.
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison noted that the Gaza war contributed to Vice President Kamala Harris losing Michigan, which has a sizable Arab American population. However, he questioned whether the issue is defining on the national level. "It's one thing to be in New York," Harrison said. "But I can tell you that most places, including where I am in South Carolina, it's not what people are talking about. They are concerned about affording gas and groceries and housing."
What the Numbers Show
The three primary victories for Mamdani-endorsed candidates represent a significant progressive shift in New York Democratic politics. While these races occurred in heavily Democratic districts where the general election outcome is unlikely to be competitive, the margins and voter turnout provide indicators of enthusiasm among pro-Palestinian voters.
Harrison said he expects Democrats will seek middle ground going forward, which includes "still supporting Israel's sovereignty" while potentially "reducing U.S. aid to Israel and changing the nature of the relationship."
The 10th congressional district race between Lander and Goldman saw both candidates share a Jewish background but diverge sharply on whether events in Gaza constitute genocide. Exit polling from the primary was not immediately available.
The Bottom Line
The New York primary results add to ongoing debates within the Democratic Party about how to address voter concerns over U.S. support for Israel while maintaining coalition unity. Democrats are preparing for November midterm elections with a goal of retaking control of Congress, and party strategists differ on whether positions on Gaza help or hurt those efforts.
What happens next will likely depend on whether these primary results represent a localized New York phenomenon or reflect broader shifts in Democratic voter priorities. Party leaders point to economic concerns as the dominant issue for most Americans, while progressive activists argue that foreign policy positions are increasingly motivating core supporters. The tension between these assessments is expected to shape candidate positioning and party messaging through the 2026 midterm elections.