By Sadia J. Choudhury | New York | October 31, 2025
In the final days of the 2025 New York City mayoral election, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo launched a sharp attack on his former rival and current Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, calling him “very divisive” and questioning his understanding of the city’s values and culture. (abcnews.go.com)
In a recent interview, Cuomo referred to Mamdani’s dual U.S. and Ugandan citizenship and cited a previous controversy over Mamdani’s comments, saying:
“You can be a New Yorker and not understand New Yorkers. He has been very divisive throughout this campaign … and that’s not the New York way.”
Cuomo also highlighted Mamdani’s prior remarks in which he described the New York City Police Department (NYPD) as “racist” and “wicked.” Mamdani later apologized, stating those comments no longer reflect his views.
Critics have raised concerns about alleged Islamophobia stemming from a radio interview in which Mamdani suggested Cuomo would support “another 9/11.” Cuomo defended himself, saying the host was joking and Mamdani was politicizing the moment.
On the campaign trail, Cuomo emphasized that New York City is “in trouble” and that his experience as a former governor and federal housing secretary makes him the candidate capable of “making government work and achieving real change.” He cited the city’s $115 billion budget and nearly 300,000 municipal employees as evidence that the mayoralty demands seasoned leadership.
Mamdani, in response to attacks on his experience, said:
“What I lack in experience, I make up for with integrity, and what you lack in integrity, you could never make up for with experience.”
As the city approaches the final stretch of the election, the contest between Cuomo and Mamdani is shaping up to be more than a choice between candidates — it is a referendum on New York’s identity, values, and the kind of leadership its citizens expect.
