Socialists, Zionists Race to Register New Democrats Ahead of Friday Deadline
Ahead of the Feb. 14 deadline for voters to pick a party affiliation in time to vote in June’s New York City primary, socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has been racing to get his supporters registered as Democrats — and one group opposed to him has been doing the same thing.
Only Democrats can vote in the party’s primary, which has effectively decided the city’s mayor in every election since 2013, with fewer than 750,000 party voters choosing on behalf of eight and a half million New Yorkers.
‘They Get Frustrated’
While his campaign has centered on promises to freeze rents, provide free bus service and universal childcare, Mamdani has also been a fierce and prominent critic of what he’s called Israel’s "genocide" in Gaza. In November, he said that as mayor he would have the NYPD arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, who he’s called "a war criminal," if the Israel prime minister comes to New York, which has the largest Jewish population of any city in the world.
That was just after the International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, the first ever for a leader of a modern Western democracy. The United States has never accepted the court’s jurisdiction, and President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order sanctioning the ICC for what he called its "illegitimate and baseless actions" targeting the US and Israel.
Mamdani reaffirmed his pledge to arrest the Israeli leader earlier this month, saying that "we need to see a city that is in line with its values" by "making clear that that person is not welcome in a city such as this."
That drew pushback from David Greenfield, a former Brooklyn City Council member who’s now the CEO of Met Council, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing poverty in the Jewish community. Greenfield, a lifelong Democrat, has charged Mamdani with "trying to fan the flames of hatred and antisemitism solely to propel fundraising in his campaign."
Which Voices Get Counted
While the various groups racing to register new Democrats have their own agendas, the issue of voters who aren’t registered in a party having no say in elections that matter is a broader one, said Lisa Blau, executive director of Be Counted NYC, which has been calling on Republicans and non-affiliated voters in New York City to switch their party registrations.
"The system that we have right now disenfranchises a large group of voters, and I don’t think that’s fair. I’m not interested in changing anyone’s ideology, but I believe deeply that everyone has a right to vote and have their voice be counted," said Blau, who’s married to Jeff Blau, the CEO of New York real estate giant Related Companies.
"And in order to do that in the system the way it currently works, you need to be registered as a Democrat to vote in the closed primary."
Conclusion
The push to register new Democrats has become a heated issue in the lead-up to the June primary, with socialists and Zionists vying for control of the party’s nomination. As the deadline for voter registration approaches, it remains to be seen which voices will be heard and which will be ignored.
FAQs
- What is the deadline for voter registration in New York City?
The deadline for voter registration is February 14, 2025. - What is the purpose of the push to register new Democrats?
The purpose is to ensure that voters can participate in the June primary and have a say in the city’s mayoral election. - What is the significance of the closed primary system?
The closed primary system means that only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary, which has a significant impact on the outcome of the election. - What is the alternative to the closed primary system?
Some advocates have called for an open primary system, where all voters can participate regardless of their party affiliation.
