Mamdani, Front‑Runner in NYC Mayoral Race, Vows to Fight Trump's Threat to Withhold Federal Funding
Zohran Mamdani is running as the clear front‑runner in multiple recent polls—generally in the mid‑40s among likely NYC voters—buoyed by voters’ desire for change, concerns about affordability, and strong opposition to Donald Trump; Gov. Kathy Hochul has endorsed him even as some New York Democrats withhold support and activists have raised alarm over his past anti‑Israel positions after polls showed he leads on Israel‑Palestine messaging and that a plurality of voters sympathize more with Palestinians. Mamdani told CNN he will “fight for every single dollar” of federal funding if elected, vowing litigation‑style pushback after President Trump warned on Truth Social he would withhold funds.
Elections
Politics
New York
Polling
Religion/Antisemitism
Israel-Hamas/Gaza
🔍 Key Facts
- Multiple recent polls show Zohran Mamdani with a commanding lead in the NYC mayoral race — polls report him roughly in the mid‑40s (CBS 43%; Quinnipiac ~45%; NYT/Siena ~46%; Fox likely 45–47%) while rivals Charles Cuomo (low‑ to high‑20s), Curtis Sliwa (~11–17%) and Eric Adams (~7–12%) trail.
- Mamdani’s support is highly enthusiastic (reported 91% enthusiasm among his backers), concentrated among younger and college‑educated voters, and driven by concerns about affordability and a desire for change; voters favoring social programs/community outreach coalesce behind him while those prioritizing tougher sentences or rising crime lean toward Cuomo or Sliwa.
- On national politics, polls find a clear preference among many NYC voters for a mayor who would oppose Donald Trump rather than work with him — Mamdani captures roughly two‑thirds of those voters — and six in ten voters would oppose deploying National Guard troops in the city if ordered by Trump.
- A NYT/Siena poll found 43% say Mamdani has best addressed the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict and that a plurality of likely voters (46%) sympathize more with Palestinians versus 29% with Israel; activists have raised alarms citing Mamdani’s past statements (including refusal to denounce 'globalize the intifada' and support for economic boycotts of Israel) and warned of antisemitism concerns if he wins.
- Endorsements and intraparty dynamics are mixed: Governor Kathy Hochul formally endorsed Mamdani (mid‑September); NY state Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs refused to endorse; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has met with Mamdani and says talks will continue; Sen. Chris Van Hollen publicly urged New York Democrats to endorse and criticized the delay; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has not committed; Vice President Kamala Harris offered a cautious on‑air endorsement framed as 'I support the Democrat in the race' while also name‑checking other Democratic 'stars.'
- President Trump publicly threatened on Truth Social to withhold federal funding from New York City if Mamdani becomes mayor; in response (CNN, Sept. 29) Mamdani vowed to 'fight for every single dollar' of federal funding and said he would litigate to defend the city, citing a California litigation strategy as a model for legal action.
- Polling and Fox reporting show broad dissatisfaction with the city's direction (about 62%); top voter concerns are crime (25%), cost of living (20%) and affordable housing (17%); voters are conflicted on taxes — roughly 70% say raising taxes will drive people away but roughly 70% also favor higher taxes on residents earning over $1 million.
📍 Contextual Background
- On 2025-09-29 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the problems identified in California were severe enough that he was threatening to withhold $160,000,000 in federal funding from the state.
- New York City has sanctuary city status.
- Debarment is a federal administrative process that can render an entity ineligible to receive federal grants.
- Republicans and Democrats were engaged in negotiations over government funding ahead of an upcoming funding deadline described as occurring on a Tuesday.
- During a U.S. federal government shutdown, active-duty military personnel and deployed National Guard members must continue to perform their assigned duties but their pay is delayed until the shutdown ends.
- The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 provides that government employees automatically receive back pay after a government shutdown.
- Under U.S. federal law, attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization is a criminal offense.
📊 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 (11)
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%