Cuomo says key factor in his primary loss was Mamdani’s support from young, Jewish and pro-Palestinian voters

“I would wager that in the primary, more than 50% of the Jewish people voted for Mamdani,” Cuomo told the crowd of around 450 at a breakfast event Sunday at the Hampton Synagogue.

He believed they were influenced by Mamdani’s appeal to younger and first-time voters who, Cuomo said, view criticism of Israel as opposing the policies of the Israeli government in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “They are pro-Palestinian, and they don’t consider it being anti-Israel,” he said.

“We have the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and I was proud to be the strongest advocate,” Cuomo continued. “But many, especially younger people, don’t consider saying anti-Israel is different than being antisemitic.”