A political campaign group named “Jews for Zohran”—formed to support NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani—has drawn criticism after revelations that it’s led by Alicia Singham Goodwin, niece of Neville “Roy” Singham, a China‑based billionaire with known ties to Marxist activism and alleged pro‑Beijing influence. The move is seen as leveraging Jewish identity to rehabilitate Mamdani amid accusations of anti‑Israel rhetoric.
Goodwin, 33, serves as political director for Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. She reportedly organized exclusive Jewish phone banks and messaging tailored to counter antisemitism allegations against Mamdani, including personal outreach to Jewish voters. Critics fear the campaign relies on identity politics and foreign influence—and that it could normalize anti‑Israel voices in Jewish communities.
Goodwin’s family background raises alarms. Her uncle Roy Singham, after selling Thoughtworks for $785 million in 2017, relocated to Shanghai and funded groups aligned with Beijing’s interests. Her mother is an academic at a state‑controlled university in China and promotes Confucius Institutes; her father was an executive at Thoughtworks. Together, her parents contributed $4,200 to Mamdani’s campaign and super‑PAC.
The group is reportedly coordinating with prominent Jewish elected officials like Brad Lander, Jerry Nadler, Chuck Schumer, and Dan Goldman to recruit endorsements for Mamdani. The campaign has alarmed some observers: former Councilman Rory Lancman described it as “frightening,” warning, “The demonization of Israel leads to the demonization of Jews”.
