From Crown Heights to Queens, Jewish organizations unite to endorse Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral bid, rejecting anti-Israel extremism and pledging a fight against rising antisemitism in New York.
A powerful coalition of Jewish organizations has lined up behind Andrew Cuomo’s run for New York City mayor, following Mayor Eric Adams’ sudden suspension of his reelection campaign, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported Tuesday.
On Monday, Crown Heights United PAC, rooted in the heart of the Chabad-Lubavitch community, became the first to endorse Cuomo. Its statement, signed by 13 rabbis and local leaders, declared:
“We proudly endorse Andrew Cuomo for Mayor of New York City. With extremism and antisemitism on the rise, and the city facing an unprecedented crisis, it is more important than ever to make our voices heard and vote.”
Momentum quickly grew. The Sephardic Community Federation (SCF) launched full campaign support, mobilizing donors ahead of the city’s matching funds deadline. By Tuesday, a joint endorsement letter emerged, signed by leaders across all five boroughs — including Senator Sam Sutton of Brooklyn’s Sephardic community and representatives from the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, Queens Jewish Alliance, Staten Island Jewish Coalition, Association of Crown Heights Shuls, and activists from Manhattan and the Bronx.
The letter singled out Cuomo’s rival, Zohran Mamdani, citing his refusal to condemn calls to “globalize the intifada,” his sharp criticism of Israel just a day after Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre, and his vow to abandon the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Mamdani even threatened to have Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested should he visit New York City.
Cuomo has blasted Mamdani as “pro-Hamas” and positioned himself as the clear defender of Israel and the Jewish community in the race. In November 2024, Cuomo joined Netanyahu’s legal defense team against the ICC’s politically motivated arrest warrant. While later clarifying his independence from Netanyahu personally, Cuomo has made combating antisemitism the cornerstone of his campaign, calling it “the most important and serious issue facing New York today.”
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust placed in me by the Jewish community,” Cuomo said in response to the endorsements. “I pledge to redouble my efforts to fight antisemitism in every corner of New York City. Together, we will build a city where every person — regardless of faith or background — is safe, respected, and welcome.”
With Adams stepping aside after White House pressure, the race now shapes up as a stark showdown: Andrew Cuomo, backed by a united Jewish front, against Mamdani, a politician increasingly defined by his anti-Israel agenda.
