American Jews overwhelmingly view Mamdani as anti-Israel and antisemitic, fearing major threats to safety.
A new Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) survey shows an unprecedented wave of anxiety sweeping through American Jewry following Zohran Mamdani’s shocking win in the New York City mayoral race. According to the November Voice of the Jewish People Index, nearly two-thirds of American Jews—a record-breaking 64%—say Mamdani is both anti-Israel and antisemitic, the highest level of concern since JPPI began tracking the issue in mid-2025.
An additional 19% view him as anti-Israel but not antisemitic, while only 9% believe he is neither. The overwhelming emotional response to his victory is deep concern (56%), followed by fear (11%) and sadness (7%). Altogether, 84% expressed a negative emotion toward his election—an extraordinary figure for a U.S. mayoral outcome.
Security fears are also rising sharply: 67% believe Mamdani’s administration will worsen Jewish safety across New York. This view crosses partisan and ideological divides—93% of conservatives, 86% of centrists, and even 61% of liberal-leaning respondents expect security to decline. Only 6% anticipate improvement.
Voting patterns show the widest divide:
- 96% of Trump voters say Mamdani is both antisemitic and anti-Israel.
- 47% of Harris voters say the same.
- Among Harris supporters, 28% see him as anti-Israel but not antisemitic, and 12% view him as neither.
The Broader Antisemitism Crisis
The poll also paints a grim landscape of U.S. antisemitism. A near-unanimous 99% of respondents report concern about rising antisemitism. Most (62%) fear threats from both the left and right; ideological blocs tend to fear the opposite side.
Anti-Zionism = Antisemitism
The overwhelming majority of American Jews reject the anti-Zionist narrative:
- 72% say anti-Zionism is antisemitism (“definitely” or “usually”).
- Only 17% think it applies sometimes.
- Just 11% believe anti-Zionism is unrelated to antisemitism.
A massive 92% of strong conservatives say anti-Zionism is antisemitism, compared to 44% of strong liberals—exposing a major ideological split.
What Americans Think About Zionism
A decisive 59% say “Zionism is not racist.”
But respondents believe many Americans are confused or misled by anti-Israel propaganda: only 8% think the “average American” believes Zionism is not racist.
Identity and Boundaries
Seventy percent of the panel identifies as Zionist.
And while 94% support including pro-Israel Jews in their communities, nearly 44% want anti-Israel Jews excluded—a dramatic marker of communal boundary-setting after two years of escalating hostility.
U.S.–Israel Relations and Leadership Views
Opinions of President Donald Trump are highly polarized:
- 55% say he handles Middle East affairs well.
- 74% say he does not handle domestic affairs well.
Conservatives overwhelmingly praise him; strong liberals overwhelmingly reject him.
Hanukkah Connection
Jewish practice remains strong among the panel: 82% plan to light candles all eight nights.
Overall, the November index depicts a community deeply shaken, increasingly conscious of anti-Zionist and antisemitic threats, and united in alarm over Mamdani’s rise.
