Just hours before New York City voters head to the polls, a bombshell report has dropped, casting a dark shadow over socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
Fox News Digital reveals that The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) released a comprehensive analysis titled "Zohran Mamdani: From SJP to Gracie Mansion?" detailing serious concerns about Mamdani’s background, associations, and policy positions.
Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for NYC mayor, first gained attention as the founder of the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Bowdoin College, a group often criticized for its staunch anti-Israel stance. The ISGAP report digs into his early activism, suggesting it laid the groundwork for controversial views that persist today. It’s a resume that raises eyebrows for anyone worried about divisive rhetoric in city hall.
The report doesn’t stop at Mamdani’s college days; it also scrutinizes his father, a Columbia University professor, whose own critical views on Israel are flagged as a potential ideological influence. One wonders if the apple fell far from the tree—or if it’s still hanging on the same branch.
Moving forward, Mamdani’s public statements have fueled further concern, as he’s declined to outright condemn the inflammatory phrase "globalize the intifada," merely saying he’d "discourage" its use. Add to that his alleged downplaying of the October 7 Hamas attack while labeling Israel’s response as "genocide," and you’ve got a recipe for polarizing leadership. It’s the kind of language that doesn’t just spark debate—it ignites a firestorm.
Policy-wise, Mamdani has pushed a bill that ISGAP claims would penalize New York charities supporting Israel, a move that’s drawn sharp criticism from those who see it as discriminatory. If passed, could this set a precedent for punishing organizations based on political disagreements? That’s a slippery slope even a tightrope walker would avoid.
Then there’s the company Mamdani keeps, including a recent photo-op with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn cleric tied to defending figures involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Last month, this smiling snapshot with Wahhaj drew fierce backlash from law enforcement circles, who see it as tone-deaf at best. It’s not just a bad look—it’s a neon sign flashing “proceed with caution.”
The ISGAP report also highlights other troubling connections, including ties to radical Islamist figures and a $100,000 campaign donation from a super PAC linked to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an organization named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a terror-financing trial. While endorsements are part of politics, accepting funds from such a group raises legitimate questions about influence and priorities.
Even endorsements from seemingly benign groups like the United Bodegas of America in the Bronx, received on October 29, 2025, can’t fully offset the unease. His appearance with Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network in Harlem on November 1, 2025, might appeal to some, but it does little to quiet the growing chorus of critics. Optics matter, and Mamdani’s are increasingly murky.
Speaking of critics, hundreds of rabbis banded together last month to oppose Mamdani, issuing a powerful letter urging voters to reject him over concerns about discrimination against Jewish New Yorkers. Yet, despite this and viral clips of Mamdani’s heated anti-Israel rhetoric, some Jewish leaders have thrown their support behind him. It’s a fracture in the community that mirrors the broader tension his candidacy evokes.
Despite the opposition, Mamdani holds a strong lead in the polls, a fact that perplexes many who see his positions as divisive. ISGAP’s Charles Asher Small told Fox News Digital, "There are significant levels of economic, social, and political marginalization in New York and throughout the nation." But is frustration with the system enough to explain backing a candidate with such a contentious track record?
Small also warned, "People are frustrated as their needs are not being met. In stressful times, populism and extremism become more appealing. Mamdani appears to be addressing the disenfranchised, especially the young. He gives fantastical policies that are appealing, yet will be impossible to deliver," as reported by Fox News Digital. Promises that sound too good to be true often are, and voters might want to read the fine print before signing on.
The ISGAP report pulls no punches in its conclusion, arguing that a Mamdani win could fracture New York City’s already delicate communal harmony and undo years of progress in safeguarding Jewish life. It’s a stark warning for a city that prides itself on diversity but often struggles to keep the peace between its many voices.
For conservatives, this report isn’t just a red flag—it’s a five-alarm fire about the direction NYC could take under leadership that seems more focused on ideological battles than practical governance.
While Mamdani’s appeal to the disenfranchised is understandable, his track record suggests a potential for deepening divisions rather than healing them. The question is whether voters will see past the populist shine to the troubling substance beneath.
