Mamdani, Front‑Runner in NYC Mayoral Race, Vows to Fight Trump's Threat to Withhold Federal Funding
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front‑runner with multiple polls putting him in the mid‑40s and well ahead of Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and Eric Adams, has surged on voters’ desire for change, affordability concerns and opposition to President Trump and has won Gov. Kathy Hochul’s endorsement even as other major Democrats remain publicly uncommitted. Amid criticism over past anti‑Israel and anti‑police rhetoric — polls show he leads on Israel‑Palestine messaging and a plurality of voters sympathize more with Palestinians — Mamdani told CNN he will “fight for every single dollar” of federal funding if Trump withholds it, citing litigation strategies as a model.
Religion/Antisemitism
Politics
Polling
Israel-Hamas/Gaza
Elections
New York
🔍 Key Facts
- Multiple polls show Zohran Mamdani leading the NYC mayoral race: Quinnipiac (Sept. 4–8) 45%, NYT/Siena (Sept. 2–6) 46%, CBS News poll ~43%, and a Fox poll showing Mamdani roughly 45% (47% among likely voters); a NYT/Siena hypothetical two-way found Mamdani 48% to Cuomo 44%.
- Voters cite cost of living, desire for change, crime and affordable housing as top concerns driving the race: polls show many New Yorkers want a mayor who opposes Donald Trump (about 2-to-1) and six-in-ten oppose deploying National Guard troops if ordered by Trump; Mamdani captures a large share of voters who favor opposing Trump and those prioritizing social programs/community outreach.
- Facing President Trump’s public threat to withhold federal funding (a Truth Social post calling Mamdani a 'FAKE Communist' and saying he 'won’t be getting any' funds), Mamdani told CNN he will 'fight for every single dollar' the city receives and signaled a litigation strategy modeled on recent California enforcement recoveries.
- Endorsements and elite reaction are mixed: Gov. Kathy Hochul formally endorsed Mamdani (Sept. 14); Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has had a 'good meeting' and 'will keep talking'; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other top New York Democrats had not formally endorsed as of reporting; U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen urged Democrats to back Mamdani while NY state Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs declined to endorse, and Kamala Harris gave a lukewarm on‑air backing—'I support the Democrat in the race, sure.'
- A NYT/Siena question on the Israel–Palestine conflict found Mamdani viewed by voters as best to address the issue (43%) and a plurality of likely voters (46%) sympathize more with Palestinians versus 29% with Israel; civil‑society activists and critics called those results 'deeply troubling' and pointed to Mamdani’s past positions (e.g., his comments about 'globalize the intifada' and support for boycotts) as concerning context.
- Both Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo have begun general‑election TV ad campaigns: Mamdani’s first ad ran during ABC’s The Golden Bachelor (using the 'Will you accept this rose?' motif), tying his message to affordability and blaming President Trump for a federal shutdown; Cuomo’s ad emphasizes experience and warns of cuts to counterterrorism and infrastructure funding.
- Mamdani was pressed on ABC’s The View about past 'defund the police' rhetoric; he said he has met individually with rank‑and‑file officers, attributed earlier rhetoric to 'growth and understanding,' and received on‑air praise from co‑host Whoopi Goldberg for acknowledging personal growth.
- Some former Rudy Giuliani aides and allies (including Joe Lhota and Anthony Carbonetti) and former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey publicly backed Andrew Cuomo, with Mukasey authoring an op‑ed framing Cuomo as the 'most viable alternative' to Mamdani and allies warning Curtis Sliwa could act as a spoiler.
📍 Contextual Background
- The Trump administration announced the cancellation of nearly $8 billion in climate-related projects in 16 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
- Fourteen of the 16 states affected by the cancellations had Democratic governors, while New Hampshire and Vermont had Republican governors.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
Is Andrew Cuomo toast?
"The piece argues Andrew Cuomo is unlikely to win the NYC mayoral race unless it becomes a two‑person contest, as current polls show him far behind Mamdani in a crowded field but competitive head‑to‑head."
Round-up: Do populists fill representation gaps?
"A perspective piece using the rise of Zohran Mamdani in NYC polls to argue that populists often succeed by filling real representation gaps — acknowledging their corrective role but warning about simplistic solutions and increased polarization."
📰 Sources (14)
Giuliani allies turn on GOP’s Sliwa, back Cuomo in NYC mayor race
New information:
- Multiple former Rudy Giuliani aides and allies (Joe Lhota, Anthony Carbonetti, former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey) are publicly backing Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayoral race.
- Direct quotes from Joe Lhota and Anthony Carbonetti explaining their shift and expressing concern that Curtis Sliwa could act as a spoiler to Zohran Mamdani.
- Michael Mukasey authored an op‑ed endorsing Cuomo, framing him as the 'most viable alternative' to Mamdani.
NYC mayoral candidates Mamdani, Cuomo air first ads amid government shutdown drama
New information:
- Both Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo aired their first general‑election television advertisements; Mamdani's ad was aired during ABC's 'The Golden Bachelor.'
- Mamdani's ad copy and messaging: asks viewers 'Will you accept this rose?' and links the campaign messaging to affordability and the federal shutdown, with Mamdani explicitly blaming President Trump for the shutdown.
- Cuomo's initial ad emphasizes experience and criticizes the administration for cutting or freezing federal counterterrorism and infrastructure funding (article cites Hochul's claim of a $187 million DHS cut).
'The View' co-host presses Mamdani on whether he's apologized to officers over anti-police rhetoric
New information:
- Zohran Mamdani was pressed on ABC's The View by co‑host Alyssa Farah Griffin about his past calls to 'defund the police' and whether he had apologized to NYPD officers.
- Mamdani said he has been speaking individually with rank‑and‑file officers and attributed earlier rhetoric to 'growth and understanding.'
- Co‑host Whoopi Goldberg publicly praised Mamdani during the segment for acknowledging personal growth.
Zohran Mamdani vows to fight back against Trump's threat to withhold federal funding for NYC
New information:
- Zohran Mamdani told CNN on Sept. 29 he will 'fight for every single dollar' of federal funding the city currently receives if elected mayor.
- President Trump posted on Truth Social warning that Mamdani 'won’t be getting any' federal funds and calling Mamdani's promises 'FAKE Communist' proposals.
- Mamdani referenced California litigation strategy—citing an attorney general's claim that $1 spent on lawsuits yielded substantial recoveries—as the model for fighting federal funding threats.
Fox News Poll: Unhappy with NYC's direction, voters favor Mamdani for mayor by a wide margin
New information:
- Fox News poll of New York City registered voters: Mamdani 45%, Cuomo 27%, Sliwa 11%, Adams 8%
- Likely-voter topline from the Fox poll: Mamdani 47%, Cuomo 29%, Sliwa 11%, Adams 7%
- Poll details: 62% of NYC voters dissatisfied with city direction; top concerns—crime (25%), cost of living (20%), affordable housing (17%); 70% say raising taxes will cause exodus, while 70% favor taxing residents earning >$1M
Harris on endorsing Mamdani for NYC mayor: "I support the Democrat in the race, sure"
New information:
- Kamala Harris publicly backs Zohran Mamdani on MSNBC, saying, 'I support the Democrat in the race, sure,' and that as the Democratic nominee he should be supported.
- Harris framed her support as part of a broader slate of Democratic 'stars,' name-checking Barbara Drummond (Mobile) and Helena Moreno (New Orleans).
Harris offers timid endorsement of Mamdani, quickly pivots to other 'star' Democrats
New information:
- Kamala Harris offered a lukewarm on-air endorsement of Zohran Mamdani on MSNBC, saying, 'He’s the Democratic nominee, and he should be supported,' and, when pressed, 'I support the Democrat in the race, sure.'
- Harris quickly pivoted to highlight other Democratic mayoral candidates she called 'stars,' naming Barbara Drummond (Mobile, Ala.) and Helena Moreno (New Orleans).
- Context reiterated that major New York Democrats Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have not yet endorsed Mamdani, while Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed him on Sept. 14.
NY state Dem boss refuses to endorse Mamdani, causing huge rift in party
New information:
- Despite strong polling, Mamdani loses the endorsement of NY State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs.
- Quinnipiac polling context is reiterated: Mamdani 45%, Cuomo 23%, Sliwa 15%, Adams 12%.
The key issues driving Zohran Mamdani's lead in New York City mayoral race
New information:
- CBS News reports its own new poll showing Zohran Mamdani at 43% among likely voters.
- Segment features analysis of what issues are driving Mamdani’s lead, with guests Julia Manchester and Tom LoBianco on CBS’s The Takeout.
Poll finds cost of living, call for change drive Mamdani's lead in NYC mayor's race
New information:
- CBS News polling finds NYC voters overwhelmingly view the city as unaffordable and prioritize 'change' over 'experience,' helping drive Mamdani’s lead.
- By roughly 2 to 1, voters want a mayor who would oppose Donald Trump rather than work with him; Mamdani captures two-thirds of those voters.
- Six in ten voters would want the next mayor to oppose having National Guard troops in the city if ordered by Trump.
- Crime perceptions are mixed (many say it’s held steady or decreased); among voters who say crime increased, Cuomo performs more competitively.
- Issue framing splits the electorate: voters preferring tougher sentences back Cuomo or Curtis Sliwa, while those favoring social programs/community outreach overwhelmingly back Mamdani.
- Adams trails in single digits; Cuomo is the top second choice among Adams voters, but reallocating those second choices does not materially narrow Mamdani’s lead.
- Mamdani leads among younger and college-educated voters; the race tightens among older voters and those without college degrees.
Schumer silent as Van Hollen blasts 'spineless' NY Democrats over Mamdani snub
New information:
- U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen urged New York Democrats to endorse Mamdani, calling the lack of endorsements 'spineless politics.'
- Jeffries' spokesperson said he will comment before Nov. 4 and dismissed Van Hollen with 'Chris Van Who?'
- Schumer described a 'good meeting' with Mamdani and said they will 'keep talking.'
Zohran Mamdani lands key endorsement in New York City mayoral race
New information:
- Gov. Kathy Hochul formally endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor on Sunday via a New York Times op-ed and a social media post.
- Hochul said Mamdani would 'stand up to Donald Trump' and focus on affordability and safety, noting they had 'frank conversations' and some disagreements.
- Mamdani thanked Hochul for helping unify the party and cited her work on free school meals and childcare.
- The article notes that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have not yet endorsed Mamdani.
Activists sound alarm on 'deeply troubling' poll showing support for Mamdani's anti-Israel messaging
New information:
- NYT/Siena poll (Sept. 2–6) asked which candidate has best addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Mamdani 43%, Cuomo 16%, Adams 11%, Sliwa 8%.
- Same poll found 46% of likely NYC voters sympathize more with Palestinians vs. 29% with Israel.
- Activist reactions: Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein and a StopAntisemitism spokesperson call the results 'deeply troubling,' tying them to rising antisemitism and warning a Mamdani victory would be 'disastrous.'
- Contextual reminders of Mamdani’s past positions: refusal to denounce 'globalize the intifada,' support for economic boycotts of Israel, and criticisms over policing policies.
- Mamdani leads on Israel-Palestine messaging among NYC mayoral candidates (43%).
- Plurality of likely voters sympathize more with Palestinians (46%) than Israel (29%).
New polls reveal Mamdani has commanding lead over rivals weeks from Election Day
New information:
- Quinnipiac (Sept. 4–8): Mamdani 45%, Cuomo 23%, Sliwa 15%, Adams 12% among likely NYC voters
- NYT/Siena (Sept. 2–6): Mamdani 46%, Cuomo 24%
- Hypothetical without Adams (Quinnipiac): Mamdani 46%, Cuomo 30%, Sliwa 17%
- Hypothetical two-way (NYT/Siena): Mamdani 48%, Cuomo 44%
- Enthusiasm: 91% of Mamdani backers enthusiastic vs Cuomo 75%, Adams 75%, Sliwa 79%