The Bitter End of an Era: Cuomo‘s Desperate Challenge to Mamdani
For nearly half a century, the Cuomo name has been synonymous with new york politics, a legacy now facing a potentially ignominious end. Andrew Cuomo, attempting a comeback in this year’s mayoral race, finds himself trailing Zohran Mamdani, a thirty-four-year-old socialist, by a meaningful fourteen points. Cuomo’s campaign has been defined not by a positive vision, but by relentless attacks on his opponent, repeatedly questioning Mamdani’s experience, claiming he ”hasn’t accomplished anything” adn “never had a real job.”
Throughout his six months of campaigning, Cuomo has presented himself as a seasoned leader, yet he appears visibly worn, his face etched with resentment and frustration. He struggles with Mamdani’s name, and consistently avoids direct answers when pressed about the multiple allegations of harassment leveled against him.His attacks have become increasingly erratic, culminating in a notably baffling moment during the final debate where he demanded to know “Why won’t you say B.D.S. against Uganda?”
Despite possessing considerable advantages – established name recognition, the backing of the Democratic Party, and financial support from the city’s elite - Cuomo was decisively defeated by Mamdani in the June primary. He conceded the race graciously, according to Mamdani, but has since launched a fiercely negative independent campaign seemingly aimed at undermining his opponent’s newfound prominence. He even accused Mamdani of attempting to ”stoke the flames of hatred against jewish people,” a charge comparable to some of the most inflammatory rhetoric employed by Donald Trump.
Central to Cuomo’s attacks are mamdani’s views on Israel, which he describes as an apartheid state and views the conflict in Gaza as a genocide, accusing the U.S. government of complicity in violations of international law.Cuomo clearly anticipated these positions would alienate Jewish voters. Though, this strategy has backfired. Polling data indicates Mamdani performed well among Jewish voters in the primary, and a summer poll showed him leading by seventeen points among Jewish New Yorkers, with over sixty percent support from those under forty-four. His campaign has successfully forged alliances between Jewish and Muslim progressive communities.
In a surprising turn,Cuomo’s struggles have prompted a significant shift in his own campaign strategy. Recognizing Mamdani’s success, Cuomo has begun to emulate tactics previously employed by his opponent. he now emphasizes affordability, utilizes short-form social media videos to project relatability, and actively courts the city’s growing hindu communities – mirroring Mamdani’s accomplished outreach to Muslim and South Asian voters. He has even moderated his stance on Israel, acknowledging “two sides” to the issue and admitting he underestimated the impact of anti-Israel sentiment on the race.
This adaptation has also led to the proposal of unconventional and untested policies, such as means-testing for rent-stabilized housing, mirroring the disruptive proposals offered by Mamdani. Ultimately, Cuomo’s desperate campaign has served to muddy the waters, diverting attention from substantive questions about Mamdani’s ability to effectively govern the city.
