Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Democratic Socialist and state assemblyman, has pulled off a major upset in the NYC Democratic mayoral primary—securing 43.5% of first-choice votes to edge out former governor Andrew Cuomo’s 36.4%, with about 93–95% of ballots tallied.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED
Fall of the old Democratic guard: Cuomo officially conceded late Tuesday after initial results made Mamdani’s victory inevitable.
Progressive surge: Mamdani’s grassroots, young-voter-driven campaign—with promises like rent freezes, free buses, childcare, city-run grocery stores, and affordable housing—struck a chord citywide, even in Cuomo strongholds.
Ranked-choice edge: Though neither candidate topped 50%, Mamdani is poised to benefit from second-choice rankings, especially those from Brad Lander’s supporters.
PRO-HAMAS ANTISEMITE
A resurfaced video of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani declaring that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the city has gone viral on social media. The clip, originally aired in December during an interview with pro-Hamas commentator Mehdi Hasan, is once again making waves online.
MAMDANI: “As Mayor I would have Netanyahu arrested if he came to New York!”
WTF? pic.twitter.com/BOWhI6hbmh
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) June 24, 2025
In the interview, Hasan posed the following question: “And Mayor Mamdani, would he welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu to New York City for whatever he comes for, given the US is not a signature to the ICC so that he can travel to the US, unlike a lot of other countries? Would a Mayor Mamdani welcome Benjamin Netanyahu to the city?”
Mamdani responded bluntly: “No. As Mayor, New York City would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a city where our values are in line with international law. It’s time that our actions are also.”
Hasan pressed further: “Even though the US is not a signature to the ICC?”
To which Mamdani replied: “No, it’s time that we actually step up and make clear what we are willing to do to showcase the leadership that is sorely missing in the federal administration.”
The remarks, which resurfaced shortly after Mamdani’s unexpected victory in the Democratic mayoral primary, have intensified concerns among many Jewish residents who have witnessed a troubling rise in antisemitism across the city in recent years. For many of us, the video reinforces fears that under a Mamdani administration, hostility toward Israel—and by extension, toward the Jewish community—could become embedded in official city policy.
WHY IT MATTERS
Zohran Mamdani’s win on June 24, 2025, signals a strong leftward pivot in NYC politics. His bold, progressive agenda secured a decisive primary victory. But the real test lies ahead in November, as he campaigns against a fragmented field and works to translate grassroots momentum into widespread voter support.
To win, Mamdani now must appeal to broader voter blocs—not just young progressives—to succeed citywide.
If he wins in November, Mamdani will become New York City’s first Muslim, South Asian, and millennial mayor—and the first mayor affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America since 1993. His win marks a sharp departure from mainstream centrism, signaling broad enthusiasm for more radical policies on cost-of-living crises. Analysts see it as a progressive rebuke to the Democratic Party’s traditional wing.
In November’s general election, Mamdani faces independent Eric Adams (the current mayor), Republican Curtis Sliwa, and possibly Cuomo as an independent. To defeat Mamdani, the candidates with low prospects of making a difference should unite behind Cuomo to rid the city of this menace.
