Overheated and Sensationalized Attacks on Zohran Mamdani Damage Political Discourse, Harm Jewish Community

Jonathan Jacoby, National Director of the Nexus Project, released the following statement:

“The attacks on Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s mayoral race have crossed the line from principled critique and disagreement into something far more dangerous — with national implications. Some pundits, politicians, and communal voices — while claiming to combat antisemitism and defend Jewish safety — are trafficking in Islamophobia, racism, and xenophobia, and distorting our broader political discourse.

“Whether or not one agrees with Mamdani’s views — on Israel or any other issue — there is no justification for sensationalizing and polarizing the political debate to stoke fear and delegitimize his candidacy. There is no place for insinuations that Mamdani supports terrorism, like those made by Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist who himself has trafficked in antisemitic tropes. And there is no excuse for the Republican Jewish Coalition’s inflammatory response to his primary victory — a public call for Jews to “evacuate NYC immediately,” as reckless as it is inflammatory.

“At moments of heightened emotion and real consequence — like hotly-contested political campaigns — candidates and voters share a responsibility to uphold democratic norms and foster civil and meaningful debate. Those running for office — especially in a city as diverse as New York — must engage seriously with the fears and concerns of their constituents. At the same time, those shaping and participating in public conversation must resist the impulse to weaponize political and ideological disagreements into existential threats. Doing so undermines communal trust and democratic debate.

“The Nexus Project is a nonpartisan 501c3 organization that does not endorse any political candidates in any election. At the same time, we recognize the broader importance of healthy political discourse. Healthy discourse means scrutinizing candidates’ policies and statements — and challenging them, even forcefully, on the merits. Jewish Americans have a particular stake in protecting that discourse, not only because it sustains democracy, but because democracy is essential to Jewish safety.

“We call on our community and public figures across the political spectrum to reject all demonizing rhetoric and any appeal to identity-based bias against candidates for public office. It is vital to distinguish clearly between a candidate’s views on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — even those one may find deeply flawed or objectionable — and actual instances of antisemitism or threats to Jewish safety.

“It does not make Jews safer when we confuse political disagreement with Jew-hatred. It erodes the solidarity and alliances that all of us need to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate. It forecloses the kind of honest, reciprocal engagement we should be striving for — where Jewish leaders can raise concerns in good faith, and where candidates and elected officials are able to listen and engage with seriousness and mutual respect.”