NYC’s Mayoral Election: What Israeli Companies Need to Know
The co-chair of Herrick's Israel and Real Estate Hospitality Practices, Yariv Ben-Ari, was quoted in an article from IsraelDesks discussing the immediate reaction to the election of Zohran Mamdani to mayor of NYC in November 2025.
Yariv asserts that "to maintain momentum, Israeli companies are being advised to professionalize and localize their New York presence, which includes engaging with lobbyists and other professionals to better understand how to navigate the changing headwinds as we come into 2026. The winners in the current New York environment will be the companies that look and act like New York firms. That means US-based leadership, visible engagement with the local community, and a clear narrative about how they contribute to the city’s economy."
"For Israeli tech firms, New York City has long been the lighthouse into the U.S. market, offering proximity to capital, global clients, and a cosmopolitan business environment," says Yariv. "The recent mayoral election, however, has added a layer of complexity and uncertainty. While they recognize that political signals matter, the fundamentals that make New York attractive haven’t changed: access to talent, proximity to investors, and the city’s status as a global innovation hub remain intact. Many of our Israeli clients view the results with cautious optimism, given the Mayor-elect’s stance on Israel, BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions), and related issues."
Yariv also added, "In the wake of Mayor-elect Mamdani’s victory, Israeli founders are increasingly asking about risk, community sentiment, and want to understand how shifting narratives might affect perception and recruitment. For now, most see limited practical impact on day-to-day operations as the Mayor-elect’s appointments to key governmental roles reveal themselves. No administration wants to jeopardize the tech economy that contributes billions in investment and tens of thousands of jobs. Over the next several years, much will depend on how City Hall handles the business climate issues, such as taxes, incentives, and public safety. Regardless, the gravitational pull of New York’s ecosystem remains formidable," he said.