Andrew Cuomo denounces Zohran Mamdani’s anti-Israel extremism, urging New Yorkers to defend the city’s Jewish heritage and moral foundations at the ballot box.
In a fiery appeal that electrified New York’s political landscape, former Governor Andrew Cuomo — now running as an independent candidate for Mayor of New York City — issued a scathing rebuke of his Democratic rival Zohran Mamdani, blasting the far-left politician’s “blatantly antisemitic and anti-Israel views.”
“There is no New York without the Jewish community,” Cuomo wrote in a viral post on social media. “It’s deeply alarming to see how many have grown complacent with a candidate whose views are blatantly antisemitic. But New Yorkers — we have the power to protect the values that make this city strong.”
Cuomo called the mayoral race “one of the most crucial elections in our city’s history”, urging citizens to “rally your friends, your families, and your communities — every vote matters.”
The statement came as Mamdani continues to face widespread condemnation for his pattern of anti-Israel rhetoric. His record includes refusing to condemn the pro-terror slogan “globalize the intifada,” attacking Israel just one day after Hamas’s October 7 massacre, and vowing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York — despite the fact that the U.S. is not a member of the International Criminal Court.
Mamdani has also rejected the IHRA’s internationally recognized definition of antisemitism, a move denounced by Jewish leaders as “a dog whistle to extremists.” His repeated accusations of “Israeli war crimes” and comparisons of Israel to colonial regimes have made him the most radically anti-Israel candidate ever to reach this stage in a major U.S. election.
Cuomo’s forceful intervention follows reports that current Mayor Eric Adams withdrew from the race under White House pressure, clearing a path for a two-way contest between Cuomo and Mamdani. Multiple Jewish organizations and pro-Israel advocacy groups have since endorsed Cuomo, calling his campaign “a firewall against antisemitic radicalism in City Hall.”
Despite the endorsements, a recent AARP/Gotham poll shows Mamdani holding a double-digit lead over Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. But analysts say Cuomo’s strong pro-Israel messaging and centrist appeal could consolidate undecided voters and reshape the race’s final weeks.
“This election is not just about policy,” a senior Jewish community leader said. “It’s about the soul of New York — whether our city stands with Israel and the Jewish people, or turns its back on them.”
