Archived social media posts by William Bores, the father of Assemblymember and congressional hopeful Alex Bores, show the elder Bores celebrating the deaths of Israeli soldiers and civilians and equating "Zionists" with Nazis. The comments have kicked up a political storm in the NY-12 Democratic primary, a Manhattan-based race where the Jewish community is a major force. The posts resurfaced just as voters and donors gear up for the June 23 primary.
What the posts said
William Bores, a veteran ABC technical director and former leader in a Communication Workers of America local who has stumped for his son on the trail, posted short replies and reactions on Threads that were later preserved by web archives. According to Jewish Insider, the archived replies included lines such as "Zionists are Nazis" and "Nazis and Zionists, both better when dead," and he responded "FAFO" to posts reporting Israeli civilian casualties. The posts also featured attacks on Jewish religious observance and comments labeling some Israeli soldiers as "murderers."
Campaign response
Alex Bores' campaign moved quickly to put distance between the candidate and his father's online remarks. In a statement to the New York Daily News, Bores said, "I love my dad, value what I've learned from him, and disagree with many of the things he's said," and he stressed that his own record and views are his alone.
Why it matters in NY-12
The uproar is unfolding in a district where views on Israel are often a deciding factor. NY-12 covers the Upper East Side, Upper West Side and other Manhattan neighborhoods and is home to one of the largest Jewish constituencies in the country. As reported by JTA, candidates in the crowded field have already been pressed at public forums on where they draw the line between criticism of Israeli policy and antisemitism. Voters will select a Democratic nominee on June 23, and the New York State Board of Elections lists June 23, 2026, as the official primary date.
Political fallout and next steps
The elder Bores has not been a background figure. He has acted as an active surrogate, and both his union ties and his name appeared in mailers backing his son's run, a setup that could now complicate outreach to Jewish voters and institutional allies. Jewish Insider reported that William and his wife lent their names to a campaign mailer and that the larger district council highlighted his union role while issuing its endorsement. With a crowded lineup that includes Micah Lasher, Jack Schlossberg and George Conway, the campaign is under growing pressure to spell out the difference between family members' rhetoric and the candidate's own policy positions.
With fewer than six weeks until voting begins, the episode is likely to show up in debates, campaign ads and hallway chatter in apartment buildings as the primary approaches. Whether it actually shifts votes is another question, but in a district where community leaders and endorsements carry real weight, the gap between a candidate's record and a relative's social media history is poised to be front and center through June 23.
