Exclusive | Dem leader, experts admit what fueled NYCs socialist surge and it wasnt affordability pledge

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist cronies who swept last week’s Democratic primaries boasted about an affordability message — but critics say it was an anti-Israel furor that is fueling the party’s swing to the left.State Democratic Party Jay Jacobs admitted voters’ feelings on Israel helped propel Mamdani buddies to three House primary victories, including firebrand Darializa Avila Chevalier and former city Comptroller Brad Lander who upset incumbent Reps.Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman, respectively.Both Espaillat and Goldman backed the Jewish state — which may have motivated young activist liberals with pro-Palestinian views who have staunchly opposed Israel military action in Gaza.“Yes.

I do think the Israel-Palestinian issue had an impact in the election,” Jacobs told The Post on Sunday.“It hurt establishment Democrats.“There are people who may have voted against Espaillat and Goldman because of it,” he added.

“It was important to the activists who came out and voted.”The pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel campaign was a “more important issue for those who came out and voted” in low-turnout primary elections that saw only about 17% of party voters citywide participate, Jacobs said.The national civil rights group, the Anti-Defamation League, blasted the insurgency as riding a wave of antisemitic sentiment to wins in the Big Apple, the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.“On Tuesday night in New York City, a movement built on antisemitic rhetoric won three congressional primaries,” the ADL said in a statement on X.The statement noted that as Mamdani moved through the jubilant crowd at a DSA victory party on the night of the primaries, attendees chanted “From the River to the Sea,” the code viewed as a call to wipe out Israel.“We’re witnessing candidates succeed not in spite of their demonizing rhetoric against the Jewish community and the Jewish state, but because of it,” the ADL said.“When leaders ...