The Day After: Jewish Community Leaders Hail Record Turnout for Election Day, React to Mamdani’s Win

Following Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral election, leaders within the Jewish community, which had mobilized heavily for his opponent Andrew Cuomo, tell Belaaz that there’s a silver lining – the emergence of a powerful, unified voting bloc.

Despite their candidate’s loss, community figures pointed to record turnout in neighborhoods like Borough Park as a “great victory” that establishes the community as a political force to be reckoned with.

The sentiment was clear from a source close to the Bobov community in Borough Park, which saw a massive voter registration and ballot campaign for Cuomo.

“Although we may not have achieved the outcome we wanted, Borough Park as a whole is a clear winner,” the source told Belaaz. “The efforts of many individuals and leaders resulted in record turnout. The neighborhood and the entire Orthodox Jewish vote have now become a powerful voting bloc for future elections, and that is the greatest victory we can celebrate.”

Prominent askan Abe Eisner echoed the focus on unity and effort, regardless of the final tally.

“It was great to see the orthodox Jewish communities coming together heavily for Cuomo,” Eisner told Belaaz. “At 9 pm last night I switched from heavy Hishtadlus to heavy Emunah & Bitachon.”

Far Rockaway Askan Richard Altebe told Belaaz: “Knowing that we did our hishtadlus , had record frum turnout in every community and that we maintained achdus throughout gives me peace of mind. Clearly Hashem has a plan for all of us.”

City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov wrote on X that “New York City has fallen. But we will survive this too and we shall overcome. Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Yossi Gestetner, a marketing executive highly involved in community affairs, emphasizing that the community’s political power has increased, not decreased.

“First off, turnout in the most visibly Jewish-populated areas was very high, underscoring once again that this is an electorally rich community,” Gestetner told Belaaz. “Even if you lose one election, there are many more ahead at different levels of government, and this is a community to be reckoned with.”

“According to some data, around 30% of Jews in New York City voted for Mamdani. But that’s a very liberal way of using the term ‘Jewish.’ In the visibly Jewish communities, he didn’t get anywhere close to 30%,” Gestetner argued.

This rejection by a major voting bloc can weaken the incoming mayor’s position, Gestetner said.

“So, when a major ethnic community rejects a candidate—and the candidate wins with barely 50% of the vote, when his predecessors picked up much larger numbers—it means that, yes, he’s mayor, but no, he does not have a mandate. And no, this is not the last of this political debate and discussion.”

Gestetner said that the new administration will have to work hard to build bridges with communities that did not vote for him.
“This doesn’t imply that there will necessarily be an ongoing political war between this administration and leaders from these communities,” he said. “It just means that this incoming administration has a lot of work to do to be able to govern without being bogged down by pushback, lawsuits, and other legal-political tactics to make sure that New Yorkers, especially Jewish ones, are protected.”

Agudas Yisrael released a statement Wednesday, saying: The voters have spoken, and Agudath Israel of America congratulates those elected this election cycle. Amongst the stories in this election is the remarkable turnout of the Orthodox Jewish community in New York City. Hundreds of thousands participated – including many first- time registrants and voters. Community organizations in Flatbush, Queens, Borough Park, Far Rockaway, and throughout the city galvanized, with Agudath Israel, in a proactive, multi-pronged get-out-the-vote effort.”

Agudah says Jewish voters were “animated by rising antisemitism, and the safety and security of their families, their institutions, and their neighborhoods. Their robust participation was an emphatic statement that these issues must not be ignored.

“In his victory speech last night, Mayor-elect Mamdani vowed to ‘build a City Hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism.’ Agudath Israel – representing the concerns of hundreds of thousands of community members – will work with the administration to ensure that this commitment is fully honored.”

“As Torah Jews we place our ultimate trust in the Creator. We recognize that, even as we act responsibly, our future remains fully in His hands.