A Political Earthquake in New York: The Fall of the Zionist Stronghold and the Rise of a New Generation

✍️BY: Ziad Hafez
Political Economist and Researcher

Translation with Adaptation by Dr. Hana Saada

Zuhair Mamdani’s Victory Signals a Historic Shift in U.S. Politics—Palestine Enters the Ballot, Youth Lead the Charge, and the Zionist Lobby Faces a Triple Defeat

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Algiers, Algeria | June 28th, 2025 — June 24, 2025, will go down in American history as the date of a political earthquake—one that shook the very foundations of New York City and signaled the start of potentially profound transformations in the U.S. political landscape, particularly with regard to the question of Palestine.

Zuhair Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim of Indian origin, a socialist, and a vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause, secured a landmark victory in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York. This was no ordinary triumph: it occurred in the very heart of global capitalism, the epicenter of Zionist institutions in the U.S., and the largest Jewish population center in the country.

Mamdani’s opponent was none other than former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democratic establishment figure who once served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Clinton and is the son of former Governor Mario Cuomo—a political dynasty in the Democratic Party. Mamdani’s win was not a narrow one either; he received 43.5% of the vote compared to Cuomo’s 36.4%, a margin that reflects a deep-seated frustration among Democratic voters toward the party’s traditional leadership.

This electoral upset marks a radical shift: for the first time in the history of political competition in the U.S., Palestine has emerged as a central campaign issue, no longer taboo, no longer whispered behind closed doors. Mamdani’s campaign resonated especially with younger voters, many of whom had participated in campus protests and sit-ins in solidarity with Gaza, notably at Columbia University, which became a symbol of this student-led uprising.

The inclusion of Palestine in American political discourse aligns with a growing disillusionment among the youth toward the elite ruling classes in both major parties. The symbolic weight of Mamdani’s win forced even entrenched figures like Senator Chuck Schumer—a staunch supporter of ‘Israel’—to publicly congratulate him, signaling an attempt not to alienate the Democratic Party’s increasingly pro-Palestinian youth base in New York.

Cuomo’s loss—given his unapologetic support for Israel and his history of hostility toward Arabs and Muslims—is a warning shot to all politicians tied to pro-Zionist circles: the American electorate is no longer beholden to their narrative.

The Mamdani victory echoes the shock of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 upset over a Democratic heavyweight at the age of just 29. Like AOC, Mamdani is part of a new generation of progressive leaders determined to challenge the party establishment from within.

Mamdani’s vocal support for BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) and his unapologetic stance on Palestinian liberation have thrown the Democratic Party into turmoil. His win places criticism of ‘Israel’ at the heart of mainstream political debate, shattering the long-held taboo and proving that the traditional Zionist narrative no longer enjoys hegemonic dominance.

This electoral shift underscores the growing disconnect between the party’s leadership and its popular base, particularly among youth. For decades, the Democratic Party has drifted from its working-class roots toward Wall Street interests under the guise of “centrist pragmatism” aimed at winning elections. But this strategy now appears out of step with the demands of a new generation.

Equally significant is Mamdani’s socialist platform—advocating for free public services in a city that epitomizes global capitalism. His campaign represents a direct challenge to the neoliberal status quo, which has, for decades if not centuries, resisted providing such services to the underprivileged. His victory suggests a dramatic shift in political consciousness, especially among Generation Z (born after 2000), and millennials (1981–2000), who increasingly reject the existing economic order and look to socialism as a credible alternative.

This generational shift is not confined to economic thought. American youth are also increasingly turning to Islam, with over 50,000 converts annually, according to some estimates. The recent election of another Muslim woman, Shahana Hanif of Bangladeshi origin, to the New York City Council further illustrates the evolving demographic and ideological landscape of both the city and the country.

As noted in previous analyses of the campus protest movement, elite universities—home to the children of America’s ruling class—were at the forefront of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The youth rebellion is now making its way into the ballot box.

The primary result in New York signals a healthy democratic rupture: despite the overwhelming influence of political elites and financial powerbrokers, it is the grassroots that ultimately decide electoral outcomes. Whether the party leadership will internalize this reality remains doubtful. The Democratic Party’s blatant sidelining of candidates like Senator Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020, through manipulation and rigging, to ensure the nominations of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, reflects the entrenched resistance to change. But Mamdani’s win shows that this might not be possible anymore.

The biggest loser in this election, however, is undeniably the Zionist lobby, which poured $25 million into Cuomo’s campaign in an effort to block Mamdani. To suffer defeat in what was once its political stronghold is a watershed moment. This signals that other regions in the U.S. may also be ripe for political liberation from the grip of Zionist influence.

The lobby now faces what could be an existential crisis. Pro-Palestinian sentiment is rising, and the grip of the ‘Israel’ lobby on Congress is loosening. Even former Republican Senator Norm Coleman, a prominent pro-‘Israel’ figure, has admitted that the Zionist lobby is losing control of the narrative.

This electoral loss is one of three significant defeats suffered by the Zionist establishment in a single day. The first was ‘Israel’’s reluctant acceptance of a ceasefire following its aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran—a tacit admission of strategic failure. The second came in Australia, where journalist Antoinette Lattouf won a lawsuit against ABC after being dismissed under pressure from the Zionist lobby for criticizing Israel’s assault on Gaza. The third was Mamdani’s triumph over Cuomo.

All of these events taken together point to a shifting tide. The Zionist lobby, once an unassailable force in American politics, now finds itself on the defensive, its influence no longer a given. Whether this awakening will reach the deeper corridors of the U.S. “deep state” remains to be seen—but the momentum is clearly building. The next few weeks and months may determine whether this political earthquake in New York is merely the first tremor of a nationwide upheaval.

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