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New York City is seeing one of its most electrifying mayoral elections in generations, with voter turnout skyrocketing to levels unseen in over half a century \u2014 a sign, experts say, of just how fiercely contested the race between socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo has become.<\/p>\n
Pollsters now predict nearly 2 million New Yorkers will cast ballots by the close of polls Tuesday \u2014 a number not reached since the 1969 election of liberal Republican Mayor John Lindsay. Early voting alone shattered expectations, with more than 735,000 voters turning out by Sunday night, according to city election officials.<\/p>\n
The unprecedented turnout could spell trouble for Mamdani. Analysts say the expanding electorate \u2014 particularly a late wave of moderates and independents \u2014 may tilt the scales toward Cuomo, who is running as an independent after breaking from the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the turnout gets larger, it leans more moderate and brings in independents,\u201d explained Stephen Graves of Gotham Polling. \u201cThat benefits Cuomo because the vast majority of Mamdani\u2019s voters are Democrats. But Mamdani can absolutely win with just Democrats \u2014 it depends on how the Cuomo and Sliwa votes split.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cuomo, who has branded himself as the last bulwark against \u201cradical socialism,\u201d has consolidated support from establishment Democrats and crossover Republicans who view Mamdani\u2019s platform \u2014 including his calls to defund the police, raise corporate taxes, and create city-run grocery stores \u2014 as a recipe for disaster.<\/p>\n
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, has refused to drop out despite pressure from party leaders who fear he could siphon enough votes to hand Mamdani a narrow victory.<\/p>\n
The unprecedented engagement reflects a population galvanized by anxiety over crime, housing, and the city\u2019s direction. Between January and June alone, voter registration surged to nearly 17,000 new sign-ups per day, according to NYC Votes \u2014 an eightfold increase from the 2021 mayoral race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis one, being near 2 million, is huge,\u201d said Graves. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be between a congressional and a presidential election in terms of intensity.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Mamdani continues to lead in most polls, Cuomo\u2019s surge in the final stretch \u2014 boosted by moderate Democrats and independents \u2014 has turned the race into a toss-up.<\/p>\n
With millions heading to the polls, this election is shaping up as a referendum not just on crime and the economy \u2014 but on the soul of New York City itself.<\/p>\n
A win for Mamdani would mark the first time a self-proclaimed socialist has captured City Hall in modern history. A Cuomo victory, meanwhile, would signal a sharp rebuke to the Democratic Party\u2019s progressive wing.<\/p>\n
Either way, the political future of the five boroughs now hangs on a turnout surge not seen in decades \u2014 and the outcome could redefine the city\u2019s identity for years to come.<\/p>\n
Zohran Mamdani built his campaign on moral outrage \u2014 but now it\u2019s his own credibility that\u2019s under fire.<\/p>\n
The self-described socialist and frontrunner in New York City\u2019s mayoral race is backpedaling after admitting that the \u201caunt\u201d at the center of his emotional 9\/11 story wasn\u2019t actually his aunt at all.<\/p>\n
At a recent campaign rally, Mamdani recounted through tears how his \u201caunt\u201d \u2014 a hijab-wearing Muslim woman \u2014 was so terrified to ride the subway after the September 11th attacks that she stopped using public transportation entirely. The tale was meant to illustrate the \u201cIslamophobia\u201d he says still defines New York\u2019s politics.<\/p>\n
But online sleuths and reporters quickly discovered a problem: the only aunt Mamdani has, public health consultant Masuma Mamdani, was living in Tanzania at the time of the 9\/11 attacks \u2014 and photos of her show her not wearing a hijab.<\/p>\n
When pressed by reporters on Monday, Mamdani changed his story. \u201cI was speaking about Zehra fuhi, my father\u2019s cousin,\u201d he said, explaining that \u201cfuhi\u201d is a word for paternal aunt in Urdu and Hindi. His campaign refused to provide her full name or confirm basic details.<\/p>\n
What was once presented as a heartfelt family memory now looks like a calculated political fable \u2014 one that collapses under the weight of its own inconsistencies.<\/p>\n
Facing mounting criticism, Mamdani dismissed questions about his false claim as \u201ca distraction,\u201d blaming opponent Andrew Cuomo and accusing him of fueling anti-Muslim sentiment.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the takeaway from my more than 10-minute address about Islamophobia in this race and in this city to be the question of my aunt tells you everything you need to know about Cuomo,\u201d Mamdani said.<\/p>\n
But his explanation only deepened the controversy. Critics say it\u2019s not just about family semantics \u2014 it\u2019s about trust.<\/p>\n
Vice President JD Vance previously weighed in, blasting Mamdani\u2019s comments as \u201ctone-deaf and offensive.\u201d \u201cAccording to Zohran,\u201d Vance wrote on X, \u201cthe real victim of 9\/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t the first time Mamdani has faced questions about his judgment and associations. He recently came under fire for hosting far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker \u2014 infamous for saying \u201cAmerica deserved 9\/11\u201d \u2014 at his \u201cNew York Is Not For Sale\u201d rally in Queens, where Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders shared the stage.<\/p>\n
Cuomo called the appearance \u201cinsulting to all New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMamdani talks about unity, but he\u2019s platforming a man who cheered America\u2019s darkest day,\u201d Cuomo said Monday. \u201cThat tells you exactly where his values are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamdani later distanced himself from Piker\u2019s comments, calling them \u201creprehensible,\u201d but only after public outrage forced his hand.<\/p>\n
As early voting continues across the five boroughs, the story threatens to undermine the very brand Mamdani has worked to craft: a truth-teller taking on the establishment. Instead, he\u2019s now accused of embodying what he claims to fight \u2014 cynicism, opportunism, and political theater.<\/p>\n
For a candidate running on transparency, Zohran Mamdani has some explaining to do.<\/p>\n
New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani (D) has shifted his stance on the controversial phrase \u201cglobalize the intifada,\u201d saying he would now \u201cdiscourage\u201d its use. Speaking on MSNBC\u2019s\u00a0PoliticsNation\u00a0with Al Sharpton, Mamdani said his change of heart came after a conversation with a rabbi who associated the phrase with past terrorist attacks in Israel.<\/p>\n
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist and leading candidate to replace Mayor Eric Adams, acknowledged a \u201cgap in intent\u201d between how the phrase is used by some to protest Israeli occupation and how it is received by many in the Jewish community as a violent threat. He emphasized the importance of representing all New Yorkers, saying his role as mayor would be to understand and bridge differing perspectives.<\/p>\n
The American Jewish Committee has defined the phrase as a call for \u201caggressive resistance against Israel.\u201d Mamdani\u2019s comments Sunday mark a departure from June, when he told NBC\u2019s\u00a0Meet the Press\u00a0the phrase was \u201cnot language that I use,\u201d but also said it wasn\u2019t his role to \u201cpolice\u201d speech.<\/p>\n
Mamdani\u2019s updated position was first reported in July by\u00a0The New York Times\u00a0after a private meeting. Since then, he has tried to balance progressive support with broader electoral appeal, especially in a city with large and politically diverse Jewish and Arab communities.<\/p>\n
Over the weekend, Mamdani campaigned with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who criticized billionaire Elon Musk\u2019s wealth during a Brooklyn town hall. Mamdani has also promoted a plan for city-run grocery stores, which he defended in a CNN interview on Friday.<\/p>\n
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), typically known for his calm, measured demeanor, erupted in frustration on the Senate floor Wednesday, accusing Democrats of prolonging the government shutdown and using social welfare programs as political leverage.<\/p>\n
Thune\u2019s rare display of anger came during a heated exchange over legislation to temporarily fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to low-income families.<\/p>\n
Democrats, led by Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), pushed for a standalone bill to keep SNAP benefits flowing as the shutdown approached its 30th day.<\/p>\n
Thune fired back, noting that Republicans had already voted 13 times to reopen the government, only to be blocked by Senate Democrats.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me just point out, if I might, that we are 29 days into a Democrat shutdown,\u201d Thune said, his voice rising. \u201cSNAP recipients shouldn\u2019t go without food. People should be getting paid in this country. And we\u2019ve tried to do that 13 times. You voted no 13 times.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New York City is seeing one of its most electrifying mayoral elections in generations, with voter turnout skyrocketing to levels unseen in over half a century \u2014 a sign, experts say, of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t