Today we are celebrating: new year, new mayor of New York City — Zohran Mamdani.

Whether you voted or volunteered for Zohran or supported our work from afar, this historic moment is a win. I hope you take a moment to breathe that in.

I also know our Jewish communities are still healing from disagreement and being used as a wedge in this election. But every rupture is a moment for repair — for growing closer and stronger.

In 2026, we will continue to out-organize MAGA fear and division, and inspire action with positive messages of our shared future.

Here’s a reminder of how we worked together to help elect Zohran in 2025:

In September, Bend the Arc made its first ever mayoral endorsement for Zohran Mamdani. It was covered in CBS, NBC, Politico, JTA, Democracy Now and more.

Over 5 months, Bend the Arc’s chapters helped knock 1,272 doors, make 7,404 calls, at 17 outreach events. 

We took our message of solidarity against fascism to historic protests, like No Kings.

We had hard conversations about antisemitism with our neighbors.

We called out Jewish leaders who would help Trump divide our pro-democracy movement.

Our viral videos of Bend the Arc leaders were seen by millions, growing our social media reach by 25,000%.

And when Zohran won, Comptroller Brad Lander and Bend the Arc CEO Jamie Beran penned a full page op-ed about healing our Jewish community in the NY Daily News.

Hundreds strengthened their skills at our trainings on fighting antisemitism, lessons from Zohran’s race, and more.

Thousands signed our petition rejecting the ADL’s racist and Islamophobic “Mamdani Monitor.”

And over 20 million saw our Mamdani work and message in Jewish, local, national, and international press hits.

Zohran is in office today because, every time MAGA tried to divide us, Jews and allies showed up and chose solidarity.

Our movements grew, and so did our imaginations for what is possible in every city — safety, freedom, and joy.

In 2026, Bend the Arc will continue to:

• Invest in primaries where our endorsement can make a difference,
• Take back Congress by defeating MAGA Republicans, and
• Protect our cities and all of our neighbors from the crises of authoritarianism, antisemitism, and affordability.

Your partnership makes this work possible. If you didn’t join us in giving at the end of the year, you can start 2026 with a donation to power our movement here.

With gratitude,

Eli Williams-Szenes
Director of Advocacy and Political Affairs, Bend the Arc