Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is the latest Democratic elected official to criticize Zohran Mamdani, the winner of New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, for not taking a strong enough stance against antisemitism.
In an interview with Jewish Insider this week, Shapiro said that Mamdani “seemed to run a campaign that excited New Yorkers. He also seemed to run a campaign where he left open far too much space for extremists to either use his words or for him to not condemn the words of extremists that said some blatantly antisemitic things.”
Earlier this summer, Mamdani appeared on a podcast where he stated that the phrase “globalize the intifada” is a statement of support for the Palestinian struggle. That phrase is seen by many Jews as an endorsement of violence against not only Israel but Jews across the world.
Jared G. Solomon represents the 202nd District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He is Jewish, and said that Governor Shapiro was “spot on” with his critiques of Mamdani.
“We need to be candid in our assessments and honest in our statements. When something is morally repugnant, we need to call that out, and that’s what people are looking for — not the blather or pontificating or the pivoting or clearing of the throat, but clear statements about the issues of the day that respond to facts on the ground,” he said. “That’s what the governor did, and that’s what other Democrats need to do.”
Solomon said that Shapiro is setting an example for all leaders, not just Jews or Democrats.
“That’s why we are leaders, to show that clarity by our actions and by our statements. There are times when leaders lead, and that’s why the governor does what he does every day, and I applaud him for doing so,” Solomon said.
The New York Times reported in mid-July that, in a closed door meeting with business leaders, Mamdani said he would discourage the use of that phrase, although he did not say he would denounce it.
Shapiro said in the interview that Mamdani, who is the presumptive frontrunner to win the city’s general election later this year, must do a better job of supporting all his potential constituents. There are more than one million Jews in New York City.
“I’ll say this about Mamdani or any other leader: If you want to lead New York, you want to lead Pennsylvania, you want to lead the United States of America, you’re a leader. I don’t care if you’re a Republican or Democratic leader or a democratic socialist leader. You have to speak and act with moral clarity, and when supporters of yours say things that are blatantly antisemitic, you can’t leave room for that to just sit there. You’ve got to condemn that,” Shapiro said.
Mamdani is currently a member of the New York State Assembly representing part of the borough of Queens. He is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, and a proponent of policies like rent control, decreasing funding for police and sanctuary laws for immigrants.
Shapiro is one of the most prominent Jewish elected officials in the country. He is one of six Jewish governors currently in office. Shapiro also leads one of the nation’s most influential states, as Pennsylvania holds 19 electoral votes and has been a key swing state in the last few presidential elections. He was on the short list for the Democratic vice presidential nomination in 2024, but that position eventually went to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Christopher Borick is a professor of political science at Muhlenberg College and and director of the college’s Institute of Public Opinion, and he said that the comments from Shapiro are not a departure from what one might expect from the Governor.
“As one of the nation’s highest profile Democrats and one of its most prominent Jewish political figures it would be hard for Governor Shapiro to avoid the debates that have arisen around Mamdani. There are ideological and policy differences internally within the Democratic Party and Shapiro’s more centrist politics are quite distinct from Mamdani’s progressive bent. Shapiro may feel it beneficial to build some space between himself and Mamdani as Republicans will undoubtedly try to tether all Democrats to Mamdani’s more controversial statements and policies. In particular Mamdani’s statements about globalizing the intifada gives Shapiro a clear topic where he can demonstrate the space between the two Democrats,” he said.
New York City Comptroller and third-place primary finisher Brad Lander, who is Jewish, supports Mamdani and campaigned with him, as the city’s ranked voting system means that candidates are more likely to band together, as Lander and Mamdani did in opposition to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Lander has been outspoken in his criticism of those who have labeled Mamdani as an antisemite.
“Let’s be clear: Zohran Mamdani won the votes of a large majority of NYC Democrats, including thousands of proud Jews like me, inspired by his vision of a city everyone can afford and confident about his commitment to combating antisemitism and hate. Josh Shapiro won’t help keep Jews safe in NYC or Pennsylvania by feeding Trump’s narrative about our Democratic nominee for mayor,” Lander said in a statement, per Politico.
For Shapiro, a key point is that it is possible to criticize Israel’s current political climate without discouraging the notion of a Jewish state or venturing into antisemitism.
“There are policies of the Netanyahu government that I don’t support. I’ve been very vocal about that. But there’s a difference between not supporting the policies of whoever’s in charge at a particular time, and the underlying notion of a Jewish state of Israel,” Shapiro said in the interview with Jewish Insider. “I do think it is important to strengthen people’s understanding of Israel and the relationship America should have with Israel and to strengthen that bond.”
I’m happy that Adolph Hitler isn’t around to run for New York City’s mayor since Brad Lander would surely endorse him.