Actor Mandy Patinkin Applauds Mamdani’s Vision, Calls Him Ideal NYC Leader
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Mandy Patinkin Backs Zohran Mamdani for NYC Mayor, Citing “Kindness and Compassion” in Politics
Jewish actor and activist Mandy Patinkin has thrown his support behind New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, calling the Democratic nominee “a deeply thoughtful human being” and “the best NYC mayor imaginable.”
In a video shared on Instagram Tuesday, Patinkin said he and his family endorse Mamdani “as New Yorkers” and “as Jews,” adding that they want “kindness, compassion and empathy” to define political leadership.
Patinkin’s endorsement arrives as early voting continues ahead of the November 4 general election. Mamdani, a New York State Assembly member representing Queens, faces independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. According to the city’s Board of Elections, early voting runs from October 25 through November 2. Recent polls suggest the race has tightened in its final stretch.
Mamdani’s campaign has become a rallying point for progressive voters drawn to his policies on housing, public transit, and affordability. Yet his candidacy has also sparked controversy within parts of New York’s Jewish community. As The Jerusalem Post has reported, several Jewish leaders and organizations have criticized his past comments on Israel and Zionism, while opponents on the debate stage have accused him of fueling antisemitism—claims Mamdani has firmly rejected.
Coverage in The Jerusalem Post has also highlighted Mamdani’s history of advocacy for Palestinian causes and scrutinized his past remarks about Jews and Israel as New York City’s sizable Jewish electorate considers its options in the race.
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The general election follows a fiercely contested primary season that propelled Zohran Mamdani to the forefront of the Democratic field, setting up a three-way race against independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Actor Mandy Patinkin and his wife, Kathryn Grody, used a July interview with The New York Times Magazine to criticize Israel’s military actions in Gaza and call on Jews worldwide to reflect on whether the situation is “acceptable and sustainable.” Grody described compassion for Gazans as “very Jewish” and rejected claims that criticizing Israeli policy equates to antisemitism. Patinkin recalled his early dislike of Benjamin Netanyahu’s “vibe” in the 1980s and warned that Netanyahu’s right-wing government poses risks to both Israel and Jews globally, urging Jewish communities to consider the moral cost of the conflict.
These statements are consistent with Patinkin’s long history of progressive activism on Israel. His record includes a 2020 New Israel Fund video opposing West Bank annexation, a 2021 social media thread advocating for Palestinian “liberation,” and declining to participate in a 1998 tribute marking Israel’s 50th anniversary. The couple’s remarks sparked a polarized response: some pro-Israel influencers criticized them sharply, while many viewers on The New York Times’ TikTok praised Patinkin’s stance.
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