New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Thursday evening, accusing the organization of being “monsters” for deploying “millions in dark money” to influence pro-Israel candidates ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Mamdani delivered his remarks at a Brooklyn rally led by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in advance of Tuesday’s Democratic primary elections for progressive congressional candidates. He expressed his support for Jewish challengers Brad Lander, former city comptroller; Claire Valdez, a state assembly member; and Darializa Avila Chevalier, a former Columbia University encampment organizer.
In a 30-minute speech, Mamdani targeted not only AIPAC but also Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military operations in Gaza. He asserted that “The monsters that we are up against, they take many different forms,” specifically naming AIPAC.
Mamdani characterized the lobbying group as existing primarily to preserve its power, stating it seeks to “turn us against one another instead of our leaders turning towards the moral change we all know to be necessary.”
AIPAC did not respond to requests for comment regarding Mamdani’s allegations.
The organization, which once commanded bipartisan respect among politicians, has faced increasing scrutiny over its campaign strategies. Many progressive Democrats are finding it difficult to retain pro-Israel seats as left-leaning voters grow more critical of Israel’s policies.
Sanders echoed these concerns during his speech, stating, “The American people understand that a large part of our horrific foreign policy is impacted by AIPAC funding.”
Regarding the local races, Mamdani endorsed ValdezBased on her stance against Israel, saying, “When other Democrats chose to look the other way as Netanyahu committed war crimes, Claire didn’t just name the genocide—she organized for a ceasefire.”
Mamdani shifted toward a unifying message in his closing remarks, including an appeal to Jewish voters.
“Whether you worship at shul, at a mosque, in a church, a gurdwara, a temple, or you don’t worship at all, we share a belief that our city deserves leaders who lead with hope and not fear,” he said.
He concluded, “No matter where we live, how old we are, what train we take in the morning, or what bagel we order, we are New Yorkers and we want the same things,” including “a city that belongs to all of us.”