Jewish anti-Zionist candidate David Orkin wins NY Assembly primary amid leftist sweep [View all]
Orkin, 35, an immigrant workers rights attorney and union organizer, received 58.8 percent of the vote, while Rajkumar, who has represented the district since 2021 and is the first South Asian woman ever elected to office in the state, received 40.9%. The district covers a swath of Queens, including parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Ozone Park, Woodhaven and Richmond Hill.
Pro-Palestine candidates are sweeping in NYC tonight, Jewish Voice for Peace Action wrote in a post on Instagram celebrating Orkins win Tuesday. Palestine was on the ballot and won. David will be a champion for Palestinian freedom in Albany.
While Orkin was not endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose winning endorsements of Lander, Chevalier and Valdez signaled a pro-Palestinian lurch for the party in the city with the worlds largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Nonetheless, his victory elevated a self-described anti-Zionist to the ranks of New Yorks elected officials at a time when debates over Israel have become increasingly prominent within Democratic politics.
While Israel-related issues were not listed on Orkins platform, which centered on affordability and immigration, he repeatedly expressed his support for a free Palestine and attacked Rajkumars record of support for the Jewish state during his campaign.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-anti-zionist-candidate-david-orkin-wins-ny-assembly-primary-amid-leftist-sweep/