by Shah J. Choudhury
June 21, 2025: As New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary nears its climax, the race has crystallized into a dramatic clash between grassroots momentum and establishment money. While former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s super PAC-backed campaign pours millions into advertising, 33-year-old Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani is taking his message to the streets—literally.
Wall Street Money vs. Grassroots Movement
• The Fix the City PAC, which supports Cuomo, has already spent over $5.4 million attacking Mamdani—funded by billionaire donors like Mike Bloomberg and Bill Ackman.
• In contrast, Mamdani’s campaign, operating on a modest $1.7 million budget largely sourced from small donors and NYC’s public matching funds, has focused on door-to-door organizing and direct voter engagement.
This week, Mamdani led a 13-hour, borough-spanning walking tour, earning comparisons to Forrest Gump as he met voters across Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx on foot.
Closing the Gap
While Cuomo still leads in major polls, the margin has tightened. A recent survey shows Mamdani within 10 percentage points, with strong momentum in key progressive districts.
Progressive Counterattack: “Don’t Rank Cuomo”
To combat Cuomo’s advantage, a progressive coalition launched the “Don’t Rank Cuomo” campaign, urging voters to leave Cuomo off their ranked-choice ballots entirely. The group—DREAM for NYC—seeks to consolidate the progressive vote behind Mamdani and block a centrist resurgence.
Mamdani has also earned endorsements from top progressive figures: Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the Working Families Party.
The Final Weekend: Heated Words, Heavy Spending
As the race intensifies:
• Cuomo has blasted Mamdani’s prior calls to defund the NYPD, claiming he is “dangerously inexperienced.”
• Mamdani fired back in a public rally, saying: “You call me inexperienced? You brought the state to its knees with your experience. I’d rather lead with honesty than govern with betrayal.”
Meanwhile, Fix the City PAC continues to dominate the airwaves with high-dollar attack ads—while Mamdani walks block after block.
A Battle for the Soul of the City
Analysts agree: the primary isn’t just a race for City Hall—it’s a referendum on the direction of the Democratic Party in New York.
Will it be Cuomo’s old-guard politics funded by Wall Street elites, or Mamdani’s movement powered by grassroots energy and progressive hope?
Editor’s Note:
This race may define the future of urban politics in America’s largest city. Stay with us for live updates, interviews, and analysis on https://thegenerationus.com
