Orthodox, LGBTQ Zionist Groups Endorse Cuomo for NYC Mayor

A coalition of pro-Israel LGBTQ activists and influential Orthodox Jewish groups in New York City have endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo for mayor, emphasizing his support for LGBTQ rights and his commitment to combating antisemitism. The LGBTQ Zionists of New York highlighted Cuomo’s plan to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism into city law amid rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments. Meanwhile, the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, representing a key Orthodox voting bloc in Queens, acknowledged past tensions from Cuomo’s COVID-era policies but backed him due to concerns over his top rival, Zohran Mamdani, whose anti-Zionist stance and criticism of Israel alarm many Jewish and pro-Israel activists. Cuomo is also expected to receive endorsements from major Orthodox leaders in Brooklyn and Queens, who see his support as vital to preserving Jewish community interests. The Jewish groups warn that Mamdani’s policies could threaten yeshivas, neighborhood security, and support for Israel, framing the mayoral race as a significant political crisis for the Jewish community in New York City. Cuomo’s consolidating endorsements reflect his positioning as a protector of both Jewish and LGBTQ communities in a race marked by deep divisions over Israel and antisemitism.