Columbia University faculty who defended Hamas after the October 7 attack are now funding democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign in New York City, creating a disturbing alliance between radical academia and local politics.
Key Takeaways
- Multiple Columbia University professors who signed a letter defending Hamas have financially backed Zohran Mamdani’s socialist mayoral campaign
- Mamdani has made controversial statements about Israel, including support for the BDS movement and calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
- The 33-year-old democratic socialist’s platform includes proposals for free childcare, free buses, rent freezes, and higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers
- Mamdani faces competition from former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has criticized Mamdani’s limited legislative experience
- Mamdani’s father, Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani, has contributed significantly to his son’s campaign and publicly advocated for Palestinian violence
Columbia Faculty Bankroll Socialist Mayoral Candidate
A concerning connection has emerged between Columbia University faculty members who defended Hamas and socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral campaign. Several professors who signed a letter defending Hamas after the October 7 terrorist attack have financially backed Mamdani, creating a direct pipeline between radical academic ideology and local politics. These faculty members have not only contributed money but have also actively participated in pro-Hamas demonstrations and advocated for policies against Israel while supporting a candidate who shares their controversial views.
Among the Columbia faculty members supporting Mamdani are Katherine Franke, who retired amid an investigation, Lila Abu-Lughod, Reinhold Martin, James Schamus, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, and most notably, Mamdani’s father, Mahmood Mamdani. These academics have consistently promoted anti-Israel perspectives on campus and are now extending their influence to city politics through financial contributions. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has criticized Mamdani for his comments and refusal to disavow the “globalize the intifada” slogan, highlighting the extremist positions embraced by both the candidate and his academic supporters.
Mamdani’s Controversial Platform and Family Ties
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who gained office in the state Assembly in 2020, has proposed radical policies including free childcare, free buses, rent freezes, and higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. Critics have questioned the feasibility and cost of these proposals, which would require significant state support. Beyond his economic agenda, Mamdani’s foreign policy positions have raised serious concerns, particularly his stance on Israel. He has openly stated that he does not support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and actively supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.
“He’s been in government 27 minutes. He’s passed three bills. That’s all he’s done,” said Andrew Cuomo, Former New York Governor.
Particularly troubling is the influence of Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran’s father and a Columbia University professor, who has contributed significantly to his son’s campaign while publicly advocating for Palestinian violence. This father-son connection represents a direct transmission of radical academic ideology into mainstream politics. Born in Uganda and moving to New York City at age 7, Zohran Mamdani’s background and family connections have shaped his political outlook, which includes extreme positions that may alienate moderate voters and particularly the Jewish community in New York City.
Electoral Challenges and Political Alliances
Despite facing significant challenges in name recognition, with many New Yorkers still unaware of him, Mamdani has secured the endorsement of prominent socialist Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. His main competition comes from former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who despite past scandals, maintains strong union support. Political analysts note that to win, Mamdani would need to expand his appeal beyond his young, progressive base to reach moderate voters—a difficult task given his extreme positions on international issues and domestic policy proposals.
“has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack,” said Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Representative.
The collaboration between Columbia faculty who defended Hamas and Mamdani’s campaign illustrates the growing infiltration of radical foreign policy positions into local American politics. This connection raises serious questions about the appropriate role of academic figures in political arenas and the potential consequences of elevating candidates with extreme ideological stances to positions of power. President Trump’s supporters and conservative voters in New York should be deeply concerned about the prospect of a mayor whose campaign is funded by those who have defended terrorist organizations and advocated against America’s closest ally in the Middle East.
