The victory of those who are followed by Mamdani against the pro-Israel camp in the US | US midterm elections 2026 News

In the past two years, pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University have faced security protests, academic sanctions, political attacks from both major parties and eviction campaign.

Now, major parts of the school in New York City will likely be represented in the United States Congress by an activist who helped organize protests against Israel’s terror war in Gaza.

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Darializa Avila Chevalier, wearing a keffiyeh, first announced her candidacy in November last year, and few knew her name.

But his message was clear: he presented himself as an organizer working to reunite families who have been separated from immigrants and against “what we all know is genocide in Palestine”.

On Tuesday, Avila Chevalier – who was supported by the Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani – won the race to oust former Congressman Adriano Espaillat, securing the Democratic nomination in one of the election’s biggest upsets.

The success of Avila Chevalier is other candidates The endorsement of a Democratic mayor shows the decline in the popularity of pro-Israel politics in Democratic circles, representatives said.

“Last night there was a political earthquake in New York City, and the Democratic Party was exposed,” said Beth Miller, political director at the Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Action group.

“What we’ve shown is that unapologetic support for Palestinian freedom is not just a good idea, it’s a winning strategy for progressives.”

First three wins

Two other Mamdani-backed candidates also won Tuesday’s US congressional races.

Brad Lander, a former city manager who opposes military aid to Israel, defeated the Israeli leader, Dan Goldman. Claire Valdez, a Democratic state representative, won the open seat.

All of the winning candidates are running for safe Democratic seats and are expected to win well in the general election in November.

Locally, voters also elected several opponents of Israel, including Aber Kawas, who is on track to become New York’s first Palestinian senator.

“What we’re seeing is a real shift in what’s acceptable and what’s important in American politics,” said Heba Gowayed, a sociology professor at the City University of New York (CUNY).

Gowayed told Al Jazeera that Tuesday’s results – especially the victory of Avila Chevalier against the well-connected one – represent a major defeat for “the politics of insults that see the opposition to Israel as unfounded”.

“The American people are going to vote and say we don’t want this anymore,” he said.

The teacher emphasized that- same as Mamdani – those who won those who won in New York did so because – despite – their representation of Palestinian freedom.

Iman Abid, political director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action (USCPR Action), also praised the success of Avila Chevalier and Valdez.

“In New York tonight, anti-Palestinian organizations are collapsing,” Abid said in a statement. “Courageous progressives fighting for justice — workers’ rights, affordable rent, immigration rights, and a free Palestine — have won their primaries.”

Close to New York

In public thoughts he points out that support for Israel has been gaining momentum in the US, especially among Democrats.

So advocates are confident that the results in New York could mean another victory for the Palestinian freedom movement across the US.

They point to the victory of the Palestinian representatives in this election, including Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania and Adam Hamawi in New Jersey.

Rabb paid tribute to Avila Chevalier and Valdez on Tuesday.

“Darializa knows we need to invest in children not bombs, ICE immigrants & renters not home builders,” he wrote on X.

“Together in Congress, we will take DC’s share and deliver for working families across the country!”

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel groups have spent millions of dollars to defeat progressive candidates.

But Miller, of JVP Action, said standing up to AIPAC, embracing the call for Palestinian rights and calling for “a complete end to the US partnership with Israel’s apartheid and genocide” is proving to be a winning message in the Democratic primaries.

When the pro-Palestinian Democrats join the next Congress in early 2027, they will expand a crack coming out in a bipartisan agreement on unconditional support for Israel on Capitol Hill.

However, despite the election of members of Congress against Israel and changes in public opinion over the past decade, US policy has remained the same. especially in relation and the Israeli government in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Gowayed said it will take time to change policy, but stressed that the New York elections show that change is possible.

“The reason I feel good is because we are up against a permanent machine, which has a lot of money, and it is long-lasting,” he told Al Jazeera.

Miller repeated the same. He said that the winners of the competition not only increase the number of parliamentarians who support Palestinian rights, but also send a message to other politicians that “this is a successful message”.

“So, my hope is that in the next Congress we can get even closer block bombs and weapons to Israel,” he said.