Ahead of Democratic Primary, Candidates for New York State Comptroller Commit to Higher Ethical Standards
Challengers Goyle and Warshaw Agree on Critique of DiNapoli’s Investments in Israel

Press Release of Break the Bonds Comptroller Candidate Forum that took place June 8, 2026.
Video of the forum so you can hear how they will drop the Israeli bonds from New York State pension investments is published in this article below.

Just ahead of New York’s June 23 primary, tonight two candidates for New York State Comptroller committed to implement higher ethical standards if elected to the office, in a 90-minute candidate forum hosted by the Break the Bonds New York State Coalition and New York chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace and Democratic Socialists of America. Candidates Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle fielded questions from voters and participants in the state pension plans managed by the Comptroller. Incumbent Tom DiNapoli did not respond to the invitation from forum sponsors.

“As of March 31, 2025, the New York State Common Retirement Fund is invested in $367.5M worth of Israel bonds. ”

“The winner of this election will have the opportunity to stop funding genocide, and the question is whether he will be committed to doing so,” said Arthur Camins, a Beacon-based member of the Hudson Valley chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace. “New York State is one of the largest US institutional investors in Israel bonds, an investment that is neither ethical nor financially sound. “

The two candidates joined a virtual forum of over 200 participants from the voting public, including public employees who participate in the $273 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund of which the Comptroller is sole fiduciary.

“We aren’t required just because we want a low cost index-like investment to invest in the stuff that is killing people, the planet and our pension fund”

— Drew Warshaw

Both Goyle and Warshaw committed to stop investing in Israel Bonds, if elected. Israel Bonds are loans from individuals and institutions to the Israeli treasury that provide critical financial support for the Israeli military and government–including the Israeli military’s genocidal war on Gaza as well as forced displacement of Palestinian families from their homes, and the Israeli government’s separate-and-unequal system of apartheid. As of March 31, 2025, the New York State Common Retirement Fund is invested in $367.5M worth of Israel bonds.

The two candidates answered questions from participants regarding their approach to investments, ethics in investments, the risks of political pressure to make bad investments, and conflicts of interest.

“We aren’t required just because we want a low cost index-like investment to invest in the stuff that is killing people, the planet and our pension fund” -Drew Warshaw

“Families everywhere just want to trust their leaders are working for them. This is about New Yorkers. This is about a moment when the opportunity to take power and money, and use it for the New Yorkers that don’t have those two things.” - Drew Warshaw

“Tom DiNapoli says you cannot have moral clarity with fiduciary duty. That is simply wrong, they are deeply intertwined. We can act on our values, and I will. We can invest in New York social infrastructure. We can protect the middle class and the pensioners.”

— Raj Goyle

“Tom DiNapoli says you cannot have moral clarity with fiduciary duty. That is simply wrong, they are deeply intertwined. We can act on our values, and I will. We can invest in New York social infrastructure. We can protect the middle class and the pensioners.” - Raj Goyle

The following organizations sponsored the forum: Jewish Voice for Peace Syracuse, Jewish Voice for Peace Hudson Valley, Jewish Voice for Peace Albany, Capital District Democratic Socialists of America, Mid-Hudson Valley Democratic Socialists of America, Buffalo Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish Voice for Peace Buffalo and Jewish Voice for Peace NYC.

“The State Comptroller is such an important position to ensure that New Yorkers’ retirement funds are not invested in genocide, other human rights abuses, or unethical surveillance,” said Lisa Lindsley, Mid Hudson Valley DSA member and participant in the NY State & Local Retirement System. “It is critical that we all vote in the upcoming primary. New Yorkers deserve true leadership in our Comptroller.”