Pesach Osina of Queens (source: Facebook)

Two Orthodox Jewish Democrats secured primary victories in New York City legislative races this week, highlighting both the strength of Orthodox voting blocs in local elections and growing tensions surrounding antisemitism and Israel within the Democratic Party.

In Queens, Pesach Osina won the Democratic primary for State Assembly District 23 with roughly 60% of the vote, positioning himself as the frontrunner heading into the general election. In Brooklyn, Joey Cohen-Saban advanced in Assembly District 45 after emerging victorious in a heavily Orthodox district.

Both candidates emphasized local issues and Jewish community concerns, such as fighting antisemitism and strengthening ties with Israel, while also offering pointed critiques of the modern Democratic Party’s direction.

Following his victory, Osina said the Democratic Party has changed in ways that concern many longtime supporters. “It’s not the party that we have grown up with,” he said, while stressing that he still views the party as broadly aligned with American and Jewish values.

He vowed to combat antisemitism from his post in Albany if elected to office, recounting one incident in his district in which a constituent walking along Mott Avenue had antisemitic slurs hurled at her, including being called a Nazi.

Osina ran in a Queens district with a large Orthodox population and focused his campaign on issues including cost of living, public safety, and recovery from severe weather impacts. His win all but assures him a seat in Albany unless a major upset occurs in November.

In Brooklyn, Cohen-Saban’s campaign centered on a platform focused on neighborhood safety, education funding, and strengthening ties between New York State and Israel.

According to his campaign website, Saban has prioritized combating antisemitism, expanding hate crime enforcement, and increasing security funding for houses of worship and community centers. He has also called for stronger support for yeshivas and nonpublic schools, arguing that all students should have access to adequate educational resources regardless of school system.

On public safety, Saban has advocated for expanded community policing, increased foot patrols, and policies aimed at reducing quality-of-life crimes. His platform also emphasizes opposition to what he describes as “irresponsible” housing and shelter placement policies, calling for more community input in development decisions.

Saban has also highlighted the importance of maintaining strong US-Israel relations, describing himself on his campaign website as a committed advocate for the alliance in Albany who will resist efforts to weaken it.

The back-to-back wins reflect the continued influence of Orthodox Jewish communities in select New York City districts, where turnout and local organizing often outweigh broader citywide trends.

They also underscore an internal divide within the Democratic Party, as candidates like Osina and Saban adopt a posture of running firmly on the Democratic ballot line while publicly expressing concerns about the party’s evolving positions on cultural and foreign policy issues.

New York City has emerged as a battleground on issues related to the Israel-Palestine conflict, a dynamic underscored by the political rise of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. In the same recent slate of Democratic primaries that saw several anti-Israel candidates win citywide, Osina and Saban’s victories offered pro-Israel and Jewish communities a notable counterpoint, demonstrating that Orthodox-backed, pro-Israel candidates can still win decisively at the local level.

Both candidates will face general election contests in November, though their heavily Democratic districts make them strong favorites to win.