New York City Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo have ignited a heated political discussion by calling for a full investigation into Zohran Mamdani’s alleged misrepresentation of his racial identity on his 2009 Columbia University application. The controversy has placed Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, at the center of a political firestorm, with both Adams and Cuomo suggesting the issue could be part of a larger pattern of fraudulent behavior.
Mamdani, who has since stated he does not consider himself Black, checked multiple racial boxes on his college application, including ‘Asian’ and ‘Ugandan,’ despite not being a U.S. citizen at the time. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Columbia professor, and the controversy has drawn scrutiny over whether Mamdani’s non-citizen status influenced his application or financial aid decisions. Adams’ campaign has called for Columbia University to release Mamdani’s 2009 admissions records and conduct a formal review of the situation, warning that the public deserves to know whether the candidate built his career on a ‘possibly fraudulent foundation.’
On the other hand, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa has taken a more provocative stance, dismissing the allegations as a political distraction that could inadvertently benefit Mamdani. Sliwa argues that the controversy risks making Mamdani a martyr and galvanizing his supporters, rather than focusing on the actual issues at stake in the mayoral race. ‘There’s so much we can criticize Zohran for,’ Sliwa told Fox News Digital. ‘To me, what are we doing here? We’re making him a martyr. We’re victimizing Zohran and getting away from the issues of why his election would be a threat to New York City.’
Mamdani’s political rise has caused unease among many New Yorkers, particularly moderates, independents, and even parts of the Democratic Party, who fear his socialist policies could have long-term economic consequences on the city. His campaign platform includes proposals such as a $30 minimum wage, tax hikes on businesses, and plans to create city-owned grocery stores, all of which have sparked concern about their potential impact on New York’s financial landscape.
Adams, running as an Independent, has emphasized that the African American identity is not a convenience but a ‘history, a struggle, and a lived experience.’ He has condemned the idea of exploiting such identities for personal gain, calling it ‘deeply offensive,’ while Cuomo’s campaign spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, has echoed these sentiments, stating that the issue must be investigated thoroughly to determine if it could involve fraud.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign for comment on the controversy and his opponents’ criticisms, but the campaign did not respond immediately. In an interview with The New York Times, Mamdani stated that aside from the college application, he does not recall ever identifying as Black or African American, and he said that his parents are both of Indian descent. Despite this, he has leaned into his South Asian and Muslim identity during his campaign, even emphasizing his African roots, including his birthplace in Kampala, Uganda, and naming his middle name ‘Kwame’ after the first Prime Minister of Ghana.
As the mayoral race intensifies, the controversy over Mamdani’s racial identity has become a pivotal issue, with political opponents leveraging it to question his credibility and campaign opponents like Sliwa warning that focusing on such issues could inadvertently help Mamdani secure more support among undecided voters. The outcome of the election will likely have significant implications for New York City’s future, particularly as it relates to its economic policies and governance under a socialist-leaning mayor.