Palestine Changed U.S. Politics— But Can the Democratic Party Be Reformed?

Three Zohran Mamdani-backed candidates scored decisive victories in New York City’s Democratic primaries despite facing opposition from AIPAC-aligned forces. Running openly on Palestine and economic justice, all three won by wide margins.

Rania Khalek and Zoe Alexandra discuss the establishment backlash and why Palestine has become a political litmus test, with AIPAC funding increasingly seen as toxic. While welcoming the wins, they argue that lasting change requires building an independent political force beyond the Democratic Party. “The Democratic Party is, as I’ve seen my entire lifetime, is where movements go to die,” says Rania. They both explain that ultimately we cannot rely on electoral politics alone, emphasizing that energy must instead be funneled into building “an alternative pole that [can] actually respond to the interests of the majorities.”

The New York Democratic primaries proved just how much Palestine has reshaped U.S. politics.

But can the Democratic Party ever be reformed?