A veteran political strategist is refashioning his super PAC for a campaign aimed at curbing the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America in New York.
“They’re not Democrats,” said Hank Sheinkopf, the founder of the political action committee Protect the Protectors. “They want to take apart the American system.”
The pro-law-enforcement PAC failed to prevent DSA member Zohran Mamdani from winning last year’s New York City mayoral election, even after spending roughly $200,000 during the campaign’s final stretch.
Sheinkopf, a former strategist for President Bill Clinton’s re-election campaign who describes himself as a moderate Democrat, accused the DSA of antisemitism, citing in part the group’s support for the controversial boycott, divestment and sanctions, or BDS, movement targeting Israel.
DSA members, including Mamdani, have also accused Israel of genocide over its continuing military campaign in Gaza.
Some Jewish activists, including the prominent Anti-Defamation League, view BDS as an antisemitic movement designed to economically undermine the world’s only Jewish state.
Mamdani and the DSA reject the accusation, arguing that their support for Palestinians and criticism of the Israeli government do not amount to antisemitism.
“It always starts with the Jews but it doesn’t end with the Jews,” Sheinkopf said.
Sheinkopf said his organization plans to establish a door-knocking operation and challenge DSA-backed candidates in future races for the state Legislature, City Council, Congress, and citywide and statewide offices.
The strategist’s initiative comes as the DSA builds momentum after a string of victories across the country.
DSA members now hold New York City’s mayoralty and four seats on the City Council. By January, the group is expected to have 14 members in the state Legislature and eight in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democratic socialists are already urging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was recently re-elected in a landslide, to pursue tax increases on wealthy New Yorkers next year.
DSA candidate Nithya Raman also won last week’s Los Angeles mayoral election in America’s second-largest city.
Meanwhile, some allies in the DSA’s New York City chapter are encouraging Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to seek the presidency.