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Mayors

A Less-Than-Ideal Choice: New York's mayor's race pits a sleazy but familiar foe against an untested Marxist.

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

In a bizarre twist of fate, New Yorkers are faced with an unpalatable decision: between the corrupt and scandal-plagued Andrew M. Cuomo or the untested and ideologically far-left Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo, a former three-term Democratic governor, was forced to resign in a sexual harassment scandal and has been blamed by many New Yorkers for the deaths of their grandparents during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite his dubious record, Cuomo's supporters argue that he is the lesser of two evils, as Mamdani's Marxist views and ties to the antisemitic BDS movement make him a more concerning option.

Key Takeaways:

  • New Yorkers are faced with a difficult decision between two unpalatable candidates: Andrew M. Cuomo, a corrupt and scandal-plagued former governor, and Zohran Mamdani, a Marxist with ties to the antisemitic BDS movement.
  • Cuomo was forced to resign in a sexual harassment scandal and has been blamed by many New Yorkers for the deaths of their grandparents during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Mamdani has expressed clear Marxist views, including support for "seizing the means of production" and the "abolition of private property," and wants to establish government grocery stores, set a $30 minimum wage, and raise property taxes on "richer and whiter neighborhoods."
  • Mamdani is a longtime supporter of the antisemitic BDS movement and has ties to the radical Students for Justice in Palestine.
  • A new AARP/Gotham Polling survey found that Mamdani is leading with about 43 percent support, compared with Cuomo at 29 percent and perennial Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at 19 percent.

Statistics:

  • 43%: the percentage of New Yorkers who support Zohran Mamdani according to a new AARP/Gotham Polling survey.
  • 29%: the percentage of New Yorkers who support Andrew M. Cuomo according to the same survey.
  • 19%: the percentage of New Yorkers who support perennial Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa according to the same survey.

Sources:

  • Thiessen, M. A. (2022, November). Vote for the Sleazeball: It's Important. The Washington Post.

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