National Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, continue to struggle with whether to endorse Zohran Mamdani for Mayor of New York City, while Republicans salivate to leverage Mamdani’s big government socialist platform to maintain their majority in the mid-term elections next year.
This reflects a trend with the Democratic primary base’s worldview, where those displaying the insignia of a genocidal organization seem to be viewed as above the law.
Historically, the party not in control of the presidency tends to gain seats in Congress during these elections, with the president’s party losing an average of 26 House seats and four Senate seats since the end of World War II.
Given the slim Republican majority this trend could easily allow Democrats to reclaim control; however, Mamdani’s candidacy has inadvertently boosted Republican efforts to retain and even grow their majority.
Many political pundits have argued that the fate of the House may hinge on the Empire State, making Mamdani’s recent primary victory in New York City particularly significant.
The influence of Mamdani on control of the U.S. House of Representatives will be particularly watched in New York’s 11th congressional district, which encompasses Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. It is currently represented by New York City’s only Republican House congressperson — Nicole Malliotakis.
Last week, Democratic Councilman Justin Brannan, who lost his primary bid for NYC Comptroller, hinted at a potential challenge to Malliotakis during an appearance on WPIX-11. Like Mamdani, Brannan has failed to confront the pro-Hamas elements within his party.
The prospective congressional candidate recently endorsed a letter from Democrat officials, spearheaded by NYS Attorney General Letitia James, “to support relief efforts in Gaza” while asserting there is “no military solution to this crisis.” The statement conveniently omitted that the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks on innocent Israelis caused the conditions in Gaza today, which are exacerbated by Hamas disruption of food assistance delivery.
This action aligns with Brannan’s pattern of avoiding criticizing Hamas supporters, especially in the Bay Ridge, Brooklyn area of his district, which is home to a large Palestinian community.
In October 2023, about 5,000 anti-Israel demonstrators gathered in Brannan’s district during a “Flood Brooklyn for Palestine” protest, resulting in fires being set in the streets and clashes with police, who had eggs hurled at them. There were multiple arrests.
One protester called for “the full liberation of all of Palestinian … to every single inch, from river to the sea.” Despite attempts by Democrats like Brannan and Mamdani to downplay its implications, the phrase clearly advocates for the eradication of Israel.
In the midst of this, Brannan and other New York Democrats remained conspicuously silent, failing to denounce the violence because of their alignment with the radical factions within their party that has led to Mamdani’s ascent.
This part of the Bay Ridge community has openly celebrated the violent actions of Hamas against Israelis, even organizing a vigil in August 2024 for Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, who was killed. During the event, a speaker, draped in a keffiyeh, attributed the terrorists’ death to the actions of the “Zionist and U.S. imperialist partners.” Again, not a word of criticism from Brannan, Mamdani, or other Democrats.
In May of the previous year, streets in Brooklyn were defiled by the proud waving of Hamas flags at a rally, where dozens squared off with police and several were arrested. Instead of standing with law enforcement, Brannan disgracefully sided with the mob brandishing the green and white banner of a terrorist group saying, “I saw no evidence of actions by protesters that warranted such an aggressive response from the NYPD.”
This reflects a trend with the Democratic primary base’s worldview, where those displaying the insignia of a genocidal organization seem to be viewed as above the law.
These incidents are not unique to New York City, as similar ones have occurred throughout the country. With Mamdani’s prominence, there will be greater scrutiny regarding how Democrats face these challenges, particularly with control of the House of Representatives at stake in the upcoming mid-term elections. New York’s role in this will be pivotal.
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Capano was the Brooklyn Director to former Rep. Vito Fossella, who represented this congressional district for over a decade, and has been an adjunct political science instructor for over two decades.