Self-Described Communist, Anti-Israel Cornell Student Elected to Ithaca Common Council

**Self-Described Communist, Anti-Israel Cornell Student Elected to Ithaca Common Council**

*Legal Insurrection* | November 11, 2025 | Mike LaChance

A young woman named Hannah Shvets, a Cornell student, was elected to the Ithaca Common Council last week. She is a member of both the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the Communist Party USA. Shvets has also participated in anti-Israel protests, an involvement that has become increasingly common among left-leaning activists.

The New York Post reports:

> *Upstate NY city one-ups Zohran Mamdani by electing communist student, 20*
> The leaves aren’t the only reds upstate this fall. After socialist Zohran Mamdani won last week’s New York mayoral race, an upstate city has gone one better by electing a full-blown communist. Hannah Shvets, 20, a student organizer and member of the Communist Party USA, was elected to the Ithaca Common Council on Thursday in the Democratic stronghold’s Fifth Ward, which covers the western half of Cornell University’s campus in the city.

Shvets, a Democrat and Cornell sophomore, defeated independent candidate and former Democratic primary hopeful G. P. Zurenda after winning endorsements from groups including the Ithaca branch of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Ithaca Tenants Union.

The young radical, who was pictured alongside a cutout of Zohran Mamdani, became the youngest DSA-endorsed candidate ever elected in the party’s history.

Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Shvets has participated in numerous anti-Israel protests, according to the left-wing outlet *People’s World*, which celebrated her victory.

In a video, Shvets explains how she came to her beliefs and why she chose to run for office. Her talking points resemble those frequently heard from progressive figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

DSA’s Youngest Elected Official Confirms Membership in Communist Party USA
Hannah Shvets has openly confirmed her membership in the Communist Party USA, stating that voters were aware of her affiliations.

*Source: Twitter* – Stu Smith (@thestustustudio), November 10, 2025

According to the *Daily Mail*, Shvets has proposed the creation of a “Community Accountability Board” to investigate the Ithaca Police Department in cases of suspected misconduct. She has also pledged reparations for Black residents of Ithaca and increased financial support for Black community organizations.

Additionally, Shvets is committed to maintaining Ithaca as a sanctuary city, supporting immigrants, individuals seeking gender-affirming care, and those requiring reproductive healthcare. She has vowed to encourage local officials not to cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies, such as ICE, when detaining residents based on immigration status.

Her advocacy for Palestine remains outspoken, demonstrated by her attendance at multiple anti-Israel protests since October 7, 2023.

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**Topics:** Education, Government, Religion, Society
**Keywords:** Ithaca, Communist Party USA, Democratic Socialists of America, Anti-Israel protests, Sanctuary city

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