On May 20 2025, there was an election for the school board in New Rochelle. In a surprising upset, two candidates—Jessica Klein and Elana Jacobs—won seats on the local board of education. I found myself canvassing door to door, reaching out to all the people I knew in New Rochelle, handing out information cards at the train station, attending strategy meetings, and even celebrating at a victory party. I was one among many who got involved who had never participated in local politics, let alone a school board campaign. This sudden political activity represented something much deeper than the results of this local school board election.
As I sat in one of the main organizers’ houses while they counted the votes and watched the celebration, I looked around and I saw 30 people in the room. It became clear that this was another sign of the “great recalibration.” For many in Jewish communities, the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent surge in antisemitic incidents both online and offline, prompted a reevaluation of long-standing assumptions—about institutions, media and education.
What occurred in New Rochelle was not driven by professional campaigners or political consultants. It was driven by parents and concerned citizens— this effort is connected to recent developments in nearby congressional races—such as George Latimer’s defeat of Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
In this case Jacobs and Klein were up against candidates like Rosa Rivera-McCutchen, who was on record promoting “radical care” and was fully endorsed by Bowman and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
For years, some parents across America have voiced quiet concerns about divisive curriculum trends—critical race theory, political indoctrination and the politicization of K-12 classrooms. But to many it wasn’t clear how serious the issue was or to what extent it was affecting people’s minds and hearts. Even if people thought it was an issue, they didn’t necessarily think there was anything they could do about it or that it was critical enough to seriously act.
After Oct. 7, people witnessed ordinary Americans conflating the Israeli/Arab conflict with many other liberal causes. The phrase “Everything is Palestine” was echoed by many. The aftermath of that day served as a wake-up call for many who previously sat on the sidelines. There was a recognition that unchecked, a radical curriculum of K-12 can have a direct impact on what young people think and how they will act in the future. It became clear that the scope of this indoctrination has gone way beyond the universities and was permeating many parts of society.
In many ways this past school board election in New Rochelle represents a microcosm of a quiet transformation underway in communities across the country. The implications go far beyond Westchester County. A grassroots awakening is underway, motivated not by partisanship but by the recognition that truth itself is now up for debate.
The difference between this school board election in New Rochelle and the last school board election are the people who were otherwise not involved in this type of political action. Many lessons have been learned from this experience and will be utilized moving forward not just in Westchester County but across the country. In this particular case, it was educators and entrepreneurs who came together and decided that they were tired of what was happening and that they themselves had to become involved. They demonstrated through their leadership that change was possible. That is what made the difference this time. Something has changed inside people’s minds and there’s no going back.
This election was more than a win. It was a watershed moment—a sign that the great recalibration is here. The New Rochelle election shows that when the community unites, it can still shape the future—one school board at a time.
Voters are wide awake. And they’re just getting started.
