Pro-Palestinian Democratic Socialists Face Vote Defeat – Attacker

The bitter fight against Israel did not help Republican Jamaal Bowman retain his seat in Congress and did not help most candidates who tried to unseat incumbents in the New York State Assembly. Three of the four lost in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

The Democratic Socialists of America, with whom all the challengers are affiliated, can probably count on only one advance in the Assembly after November’s general election.

Currently, eight Democrats in the State Senate and Assembly are affiliated with local DSA chapters in New York and the Mid-Hudson Valley. The group was widely condemned for celebrating Hamas’ attacks on Israel during a demonstration in Times Square on October 7 – the day of the attack.

Here’s a roundup of some of the most closely watched races in which the Israel angle played a key role:

The position is filled by a Columbia University employee

DSA will likely gain an Assembly seat in the November general election along with Claire Valdez, a Columbia University employee and union organizer who defeated incumbent Juan Ardila in Queens. Ardila, backed by the left-wing Working Families Party in a largely Democratic district, has been dogged by sexual harassment allegations made against two women at a 2015 student party. The allegations were made public months after his election in 2022, which was an incentive immediate call for his resignation.

Solidarity PAC, a newly formed group aimed at supporting pro-Israel candidates in local races across the state, has endorsed a third candidate in the race, Johanna Carmona.

Valdez joined the pro-Palestinian protests against the war in Gazathrow A protest vote in the presidential primaries against President Joe Biden and accused Israel committing “genocide” in the war against Hamas. Of Carmona’s pro-Israel associates, she said: “They are coming after us not only because we support a ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Gaza, but because we are winning.” She won with 58% of the votes. Carmona came in second with 31%.

Two DSA officials easily fended off competitors backed by pro-Israel donors. Emily Gallagher of Brooklyn received 75% of the vote against Anathea Simpkins, and Sarahana Shrestha of the Hudson Valley received 66% against Gabi Madden. And Republican Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of the Bronx and Queens and has been a sharp critic of Israel in Congress, won a fourth term in Congress with 82% of the vote.

Ally of Hakeem Jeffries

The DSA failed to unseat two-term Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman in Central Brooklyn. Eon Huntley, a local activist and retail worker, challenged the incumbent for his support for Israel and for his refusal to co-sponsor laws penalizing charities supporting Israeli settlements. “Palestine is on the ballot” Huntley Campaign Mail To read. “Eon Tyrell Huntley Calls for a Permanent and Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza and an End to U.S. Aid for Israeli Military War Crimes in Palestine.”

The duel was one of the most even he fought hard racing cycle and attracted the attention of national and statewide leaders. Zinerman was endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and state Attorney General Tish James. He also received financial support from former Mayor Mike Bloomberg and the Solidarity PAC.

AOC’s Ally in the Bronx

Michael Benedetto, a longtime Bronx assemblyman, easily defeated third challenger and DSA member Jonathan Soto, a former Ocasio-Cortez staffer, with 62% of the vote.

Sota called Benedetto “pro-war democrat”. refusing to call for a ceasefire. “I Can’t Blame Israel for What They Are Doing” Benedetto said. “They are fighting for their homeland, just like we did after September 11.”

Stand Up NY, a PAC founded to defeat extremist and anti-Semitic candidates, spent more than $100,000 on Zinerman and Benedetto on digital ads and boosting voter turnout. “Last night showed that New Yorkers are ready to stand up to extremism and fight for real representation that values ​​results over rhetoric,” said Zak Malamed, head of the group and former congressional candidate.

In the Hudson Valley

Didi Barrett, a six-term incumbent from the Hudson Valley, rejected a DSA-backed primary challenge from Claire Cousin, the nonprofit’s director. Didi won 57% of the votes. Kuzyn received 42%.

Open seats

DSA and the left also saw losses in the Democratic primary for open seats.

Jordan Wright, the son of former Assemblyman and Manhattan Democratic Party leader Keith Wright, won a four-way contest to succeed retiring Assemblywoman Inez Dickens in Central Harlem. DSA candidate Maria Ordonez took second place with 30% of the votes.

On New York’s Upper West Side, Micah Lasher, a former adviser to Gov. Kathy Hochul, won with 53% of the vote in a five-person race to succeed retiring Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell. Progressive groups – the Working Families Party, the Sunrise Movement and The Jewish Vote, a political action committee affiliated with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice – endorsed Eli Northrup, who finished second.

Lasher, who is Jewish, he worked before for former New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In his victory speech Lasher was bragging that for his interns, the campaign “was a place where you could be both a proud progressive and a proud Zionist.”

“Everyone should look at the results of this election,” he added, “and know that voters in the highest turnout New York state assembly district believe there is no election.”

During the campaign Lasher said “He would like to get Hamas out of Gaza and Netanyahu out of the Knesset.”

Orthodox representation

Tuesday’s primary could herald an increase in Orthodox representation in Albany. There are currently five Orthodox legislators — state Sen. Simcha Felder and Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein of Brooklyn, Assemblymen David Weprin and Sam Berger of Queens, and Assemblyman Ari Brown, a Republican from Nassau County.

Councilman Kalman Yeger, who is term-limited, easily won the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed longtime Brooklyn Assembly member Helene Weinstein. Yeger will also run in the general election on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder, Democrat and member of the Belz Hasidic sect, won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Republican John McGowan. Weider took advantage of an additional Orthodox voter in Ramapo, consequence of changing territorial division.