AIPAC Has A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad NYC Election Night! w/ Blakeley
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖AIPAC-backed candidates experienced significant losses in key New York City congressional races.
- ❖Progressive challengers, including Brad Lander and Daria Liza Avia Shave, won decisively with grassroots support and anti-genocide platforms.
- ❖NY State Assemblyman Mamdani's endorsements and direct criticism of AIPAC's 'dark money' played a crucial role in the progressive sweep.
- ❖The victories highlight a growing voter dissatisfaction with establishment Democrats and the influence of pro-Israel lobbying.
- ❖The progressive movement is urged to adopt a more adversarial stance against the Democratic establishment rather than seeking compromise.
Insights
1AIPAC Suffers 'Catastrophic' Losses in NYC Elections
AIPAC-backed candidates Dan Goldman (NY-10) and five-term incumbent Adrianiano Espot (NY-13) were defeated by progressive challengers Brad Lander and Daria Liza Avia Shave, respectively. Goldman, a Levi Strauss heir, received $377,000 in AIPAC donations but lost by 32 points to Lander, who took no AIPAC money and called Gaza a genocide. Espot, who received over $676,000 from AIPAC over his career, lost to Shave, an organizer from Palestinian Solidarity Encampments at Columbia University.
Dan Goldman (NY-10) lost to Brad Lander 66-34, with Goldman receiving $377,000 from AIPAC. Adrianiano Espot (NY-13) lost to Daria Liza Avia Shave 49-45, with AIPAC and allied super PACs funneling nearly $3 million to defend Espot.
2Progressive Victories Driven by Anti-Genocide Stance and Grassroots Power
The winning candidates, Lander and Shave, both adopted strong anti-genocide positions regarding Gaza, which resonated with voters. Lander won with over 11,000 grassroots donors, and Shave's victory in the district including Columbia University is seen as a direct repudiation of the establishment's response to student protests. The host notes that voters in East Harlem cited AIPAC money as their 'breaking point' with Espot.
Lander 'took zero APAC money, called Gaza a genocide and won with 11,000 plus grassroots donors.' Voters in East Harlem 'said the Apac money was their breaking point.'
3Mamdani's Adversarial Approach Reshapes Progressive Strategy
New York State Assemblyman Mamdani's aggressive endorsement of a slate of progressive candidates, including Shave and Valdez, and his unapologetic criticism of AIPAC as 'monsters who move dark money' is highlighted as a new model for the left. He doubled down on his criticism despite accusations of antisemitic tropes, refusing to 'walk it back' like typical Democrats. This 'adversarial energy' is contrasted with the perceived 'pathetic' and conciliatory approach of other progressives.
Mamdani's victory speech and his subsequent defense of calling AIPAC 'monsters who move dark money' and filtering 'dark money' through shell organizations. The host states, 'he did not do what we expect from Democrats at this point. They're going to walk it back.'
Lessons
- Progressive candidates should consider adopting an unapologetically adversarial stance against establishment figures and well-funded PACs, as demonstrated by Mamdani.
- Grassroots organizing and a clear 'anti-genocide' platform can be powerful tools to overcome significant financial disadvantages in elections.
- Voters are increasingly sensitive to the influence of 'dark money' in politics; candidates should highlight and challenge such funding in their campaigns.
Notable Moments
Dan Goldman's loss in NY-10, despite being a 'lucky boy' Levi Strauss heir with significant AIPAC funding, to Brad Lander who took no AIPAC money and called Gaza a genocide.
This demonstrates that substantial financial backing from powerful PACs can be overcome by a strong progressive message and grassroots support, especially on issues like Gaza.
Daria Liza Avia Shave's victory in NY-13, a former Palestinian solidarity organizer, now representing the district including Columbia University where she organized encampments.
This is framed as a highly symbolic victory, directly challenging the establishment's narrative and actions against student activists, and showing a direct path from activism to political power.
Mamdani's refusal to retract his strong criticism of AIPAC, calling them 'monsters who move dark money,' and doubling down on his statements.
This moment is presented as a crucial departure from typical Democratic behavior, advocating for a more confrontational and principled stand against perceived corruption and influence.
Quotes
"Last night was a catastrophic night for Apac. Let's count the bodies."
"Voters in East Harlem said the Apac money was their breaking point. One voter told reporters it was the last straw."
"When I am speaking about Apac, I'm speaking about an organization that has been supportive of the status quo, that has fought any attempt to actually deliver safety to people not just in Palestine but frankly um through much of the region. And it is a status quo for immorality."
"Progressives and the left always piss me off because they're so pathetic. It's always like, can we please? And it's like, why aren't you ever adversarial?"
Q&A
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