New York primary elections deal a blow to AIPAC and Netanyahu's allies

Urgent: Washington's Message

Victories of progressives backed by Zohran Mamdani reflect a rapid shift within the Democratic Party towards Gaza and Palestine

Washington – Said Arikat – 24/6/2026

The results of the Democratic primary elections held on June 23 in New York State revealed deep political shifts within the Democratic Party. A number of progressive candidates critical of Israeli policies succeeded in achieving remarkable victories over candidates associated with the traditional party establishment. Observers considered these results a political setback for pro-Israel lobbying groups, foremost among them the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and a clear message that defending Palestinian rights is no longer an electoral burden as it was perceived in past decades.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani emerged as the most influential political figure in these elections, having played a pivotal role in supporting and mobilizing voters for a group of progressive candidates who adopted critical stances on the Israeli war on Gaza and supported Palestinian rights.

The most prominent victory was Brad Lander's win in the 10th Congressional District, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, over incumbent Representative Dan Goldman, one of the most prominent defenders of Israel in Congress. The competition between the two men turned into a political confrontation over the future of the Democratic Party and its stance on the war in Gaza, with Lander successfully attracting the votes of youth and progressives who expressed growing dissatisfaction with unconditional American support for Israel.

In the 13th District, Daraliza Avila Chevalier achieved a major surprise by unseating veteran Representative Adriano Espaillat, one of the most prominent figures of the Democratic establishment in New York. Observers saw this result as reflecting the growing influence of the progressive wing within the party, especially among Latino and young voters who made the war on Gaza one of the central issues in their electoral choices.

Claire Valdes also won the Democratic Party nomination in the 7th District after defeating Antonio Reynoso, based on a campaign focused on social justice and the need to re-evaluate US military aid to Israel, an issue that until recently was a political taboo within many Democratic circles.

Among the most significant results was the victory of Palestinian-American Abeer Qawas for a New York State Senate seat in a Queens district, after defeating a candidate backed by the party establishment. Activists considered this victory to have special symbolism, as it reflects the rise of a new generation of Arab and Palestinian-American politicians capable of winning major elections without abandoning their identity or their positions supporting the Palestinian cause.

Analysts believe that the common denominator among these victories is the political and organizational support provided by Zohran Mamdani, who, since his election as Mayor of New York, has succeeded in building a broad coalition of youth, unions, and progressive movements. Mamdani's political network has transformed into an influential electoral force within the city, capable of mobilizing thousands of volunteers and voters behind candidates who adopt a progressive agenda that includes economic justice, civil rights, and the defense of Palestinians.

These results gain additional importance because they come amidst the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and escalating international criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu's government due to military operations that have resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties, in addition to settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and the continued Israeli occupation of parts of southern Lebanon.

Observers say that the message carried by the New York elections extends beyond the state itself, indicating a tangible change in the political mood within broad sectors of the Democratic Party, especially among young voters who are now more willing to criticize Israeli policies than previous generations.

These elections reveal a decline in the effectiveness of the strategy adopted by AIPAC for decades, which was based on using massive electoral spending to isolate or defeat candidates critical of Israel. While the organization still possesses enormous financial resources and widespread influence in Washington, the New York results suggest that political money is no longer the sole decisive factor in Democratic elections. Grassroots campaigns, field organizing, and reliance on volunteers have demonstrated an increasing ability to compete with massive funding, especially when linked to moral and humanitarian issues that concern public opinion, such as the war on Gaza and Palestinian rights.

Zohran Mamdani also stands out as one of the most important rising political figures in the United States. His success was not limited to winning the position of Mayor of New York, but extended to reshaping the political map within the city by building a multi-ethnic and multi-background progressive coalition. The recent elections showed that his influence now extends beyond his executive position to become a decisive factor in tipping the scales for the candidates he supports. This gives him an advanced position within the Democratic Party and makes him a new model for political leadership that combines municipal work, grassroots organizing, and broad electoral influence.

Circles close to President Trump may view these results as an internal matter concerning the Democratic Party, but their national implications are much broader. The continuous rise of the progressive current supporting Palestinian rights indicates a gradual shift in American public opinion towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If these trends continue in the coming years, successive US administrations may find themselves forced to reconsider some traditional assumptions that have governed the relationship with Israel for decades, especially with increasing popular pressure demanding that US support be linked to respect for international law and human rights.