Newsroom
Election Day in New York City has turned into a political spectacle with implications far beyond the five boroughs, and the biggest surprise might just be Donald Trump himself.
The former president, who’s never been shy about his disdain for Democrats, publicly endorsed Andrew Cuomo, yes, that Andrew Cuomo, over Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Muslim progressive who could become the city’s first South Asian mayor. Trump’s reasoning? “You really have no choice,” he said, calling Mamdani a “communist lunatic” and warning he’d cut federal funds to the city if Mamdani wins.
It’s a rare moment when Trump would rather back a Democrat than a Muslim, and it’s sparking questions about how much America’s political lines are shifting, or hardening, in the Trump 2.0 era.
Mamdani, a state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, has energized younger, left-leaning voters with a populist platform and viral online following. But he’s also faced backlash over his criticism of Israel and his approach to policing, with opponents labeling him “too radical” for New York.
Cuomo, meanwhile, is attempting a comeback as an Independent after resigning in 2021 amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he continues to deny. Backed by billionaire donors like Michael Bloomberg and now, unexpectedly, Trump, Cuomo is pitching himself as the experienced hand who can “get things done.”
Polls show the race tightening between the two men, as Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa trails behind. Early voting turnout is already five times higher than in 2021, a sign that New Yorkers know this race isn’t just about who runs their city. It’s about what kind of country the U.S. is becoming.
*Source: ABC News
