Bruce Blakeman Uses Riot Rhetoric to Court Hasidic Voters

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman used graphic rhetoric during a private meeting with Hasidic Jewish leaders in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to attack New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul. In audio excerpts from the meeting, Blakeman suggested that if riots occurred, Mamdani would not stop the burning of yeshivas and the raping of women, drawing a comparison to the 1991 Crown Heights riots.

Blakeman is attempting to attract Jewish voters who are critical of Mamdani's views on Israel and Hochul's political alliance with the mayor. He defended his comments by claiming Mamdani refuses to condemn terrorist battle cries, despite Mamdani's repeated denunciations of the Hamas attacks on Israel.

Critics, including City Comptroller Mark Levine and Rabbi Moishe Indig, condemned the remarks as irresponsible fear-mongering. Conversely, Rabbi David Katz praised Blakeman, arguing that Mamdani's rhetoric regarding Israel has aggravated tensions. Current polling indicates Governor Hochul maintains a lead over Blakeman by nine to 19 percentage points.