The New York City mayoral race is intensifying as Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani criticizes rival Andrew Cuomo for ‘Islamophobic rhetoric’ after the former governor claimed Mamdani would ‘cheer’ at another 9/11-style attack. Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayoral nominee, is facing significant opposition from Jewish leaders and community members, who accuse him of anti-Israel positions. The heated exchanges between the candidates have raised tensions within the city’s diverse population, with Mamdani condemning the ‘renewed wave of Islamophobic rhetoric’ and calling for an end to anti-Muslim sentiment. The race, which will conclude on November 4, is shaping up to be one of the most politically charged in recent memory.
On the eve of early voting, Mamdani accused Cuomo of using