In the face of weak polling figures, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has turned to uglier tactics in his bid to become New York City’s mayor over his main rival, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
Cuomo, running as an independent, has long sought to paint Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, as too extreme.
But this week he went further, appearing to agree that Mamdani was a terrorist sympathizer and that his supporters were shoplifters, domestic abusers and other criminal types.
Cuomo laughed along with conservative radio personality Sid Rosenberg on Thursday morning when the host said Mamdani would be “cheering” on another 9/11-style attack, if one were to occur.
If elected, Mamdani would be the city’s first Muslim mayor. The race has attracted national attention — and threats from President Donald Trump — due to Mamdani’s progressive credentials and policy proposals to address housing shortages and the high cost of living. Mamdani currently enjoys a double-digit polling lead over Cuomo, although that would likely narrow if Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa were to drop out of the race.
