NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� When Varun Venkatesh cast his ballot in New York鈥檚 primary this week, he thought about 鈥渁 good litmus test for me as a voter.鈥� He wanted to know what the candidates are doing for the Palestinian cause.
The 27-year-old Brooklyn resident decided to support Claire Valdez, who was backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, over Antonio Reynoso, another progressive who was the choice of the Democratic establishment, because she had 鈥渁 clear and more consistent stance.鈥�
Valdez triumphed in her congressional primary, as did two other insurgent candidates , and Israel was a key issue in each of the races. Now the question for Democrats is how many more voters like Venkatesh are out there as the party charts its path toward the November midterms and the next presidential election.
began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which responded with a yearslong counterattack that left more than 73,000 dead. About 1,000 have died since a ceasefire was reached in October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry that does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.
Human rights groups and a United Nations commission have described Israel’s actions as a genocide, a charge that’s been rejected by .
Democrats on the left 鈥� and even some conservatives 鈥� have ratcheted up pressure to suspend U.S. aid to Israel, a shift that’s been shadowed by a rise in antisemitism across the political spectrum.
鈥淭he Israel question has become defining,鈥� said Matt Bennett, who leads the centrist Democratic group Third Way and frequently criticizes progressives as jeopardizing outreach to independent voters. He argued that some in Mamdani鈥檚 camp have embraced 鈥渁 new level of extremism,鈥� warning that 鈥淩epublicans are very good at weaponizing crazy ideas on the fringe against mainstream candidates.鈥�
The schism over Israel, which widened during Joe Biden’s presidency and undermined Kamala Harris’ bid to replace him, remains an open wound. How Democrats attempt to stitch it closed will help define their future. A step in any direction risks alienating pieces of the party’s unwieldy coalition when it’s trying to unify around the mission of retaking control of Congress and set the stage for winning the White House again.
Mamdani is unapologetic in his effort to reshape the Democratic Party from the mayor鈥檚 office of the country鈥檚 largest city. He sharply criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for defending what he calls 鈥渁 status quo of immorality鈥� in Gaza, and voters who celebrated his slate’s victories on Tuesday night chanted 鈥淔ree Palestine.鈥�
The mayor, meanwhile, argues that New York should shape Democrats鈥� search for their national identity in the coming years.
鈥淲hen does the race for 2028 begin?鈥� Mamdani asked last week on a stage with his slate of candidates. 鈥淚t starts now.鈥�
Israel-Palestinian conflict animates Democrats’ left flank
Even for a party accustomed to conflicts between progressives and moderates, the divide over Israel has been especially intense. Although the U.S. alliance with Israel once had bipartisan support, the ascendancy of Israel’s right wing, led by Netanyahu, strained those ties over the years. Then the war in Gaza shredded them.
Biden was denounced as by pro-Palestinian supporters, who shifted their attention to Harris once she replaced him as the Democratic nominee for president two years ago.
鈥淪he was trying to do the right thing,” said Jamie Harrison, who led the Democratic National Committee at the time. “It was a hard and awkward place to be in.鈥�
Harrison said the war in Gaza helped cost Harris the state of Michigan, which has However, he doubts that it was a defining national issue then or now.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to be in New York. But I can tell you that most places, including where I am in South Carolina, it鈥檚 not what people are talking about,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are concerned about affording gas and groceries and housing.鈥�
Harrison expects Democrats to look for middle ground in the future, which includes 鈥渟till supporting Israel鈥檚 sovereignty鈥� while calling for 鈥渞educing U.S. aid to Israel and changing the nature of the relationship.鈥�
The issue puts a notable spotlight on Jewish Democrats who could become presidential contenders at the same time Mamdani wields his influence as the most prominent elected Muslim in U.S. politics.
When Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro鈥檚 name landed on Harris鈥� list of potential running mates, activists on the left cried foul over his support for Israel 鈥� potentially previewing pressures he would experience in a White House campaign.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was once a billionaire donor to AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, and a national board member. He cut ties with the group after it aligned with Donald Trump, but the governor has continued to face questions about his past support.
Both Shapiro and Pritzker are seeking reelection this November before deciding on White House bids.
One primary victor blasted the 鈥榟ug Bibi鈥� strategy
Finding middle ground has been difficult so far, as demonstrated by the primary in New York’s 10th congressional district.
Brad Lander, the former city comptroller backed by Mamdani, successfully challenged U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in the race.
Both candidates are Jewish, and both have criticized the Israeli government. But Lander says the war in Gaza is a genocide, and Goldman does not.
鈥淥ur party needs to admit that Joe Biden鈥檚 鈥榟ug Bibi鈥� strategy was a catastrophic mistake,” Lander said in his primary victory speech. He added, 鈥淲e cannot keep paying for Netanyahu鈥檚 wars with our tax dollars. Democratic voters are saying this, loud and clear.鈥�
Ari Rassouli, a voter in the district, said the incumbent’s views on Israel were 鈥渙ne of the many reasons that I didn鈥檛 like Dan Goldman.鈥�
Describing the war as a genocide, she said 鈥渁 candidate that is in support of that has no place in our democracy at all.鈥�
While talking to reporters on Tuesday, Lander acknowledged that Israel was among the top issues along with affordability and immigration.
鈥淚 like talking to Jewish voters who feel anxiety about the times we live in and say, 鈥業 have these values, I want to treat everyone like they鈥檙e equal and with dignity and created in God鈥檚 image. How do we navigate the times we鈥檙e in?鈥欌�� he said.
He added with a smile, 鈥淭hose are probably the longest conversations at the polls.鈥� ___
Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre and Larry Neumeister contributed to this report.
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