A shock poll suggests that the Marxist-Muslim Zohran Mamdani will be New York’s next mayor

Peloni:  For an antisemite to be made mayor over the largest congregation of Jews in the US is a foretelling warning.

A shock poll suggests that the Marxist-Muslim Zohran Mamdani will be New York’s next mayor

By Andrea Widburg

When people think of American commerce, they think of New York. And when people think of American Jewish culture, they also think of New York, which has the largest Jewish community of any city in the world outside of Israel. But if the polls are correct, New York may soon have a mayor who is an avowed Marxist and an antisemite. (And yes, I equate anti-Zionism directly with antisemitism.)

Tomorrow is voting day in the New York Democrat party mayoral primary. This matters because the greatest likelihood is that whoever wins the Democrat primary will be New York City’s next mayor. The chances of a Republican winning, after all, are slim.

The two main Democrat candidates are Andrew Cuomo, about whom much is known: He was the fairly competent former governor of New York, whom liberty-minded people rightly despise because of his COVID policies, especially sticking COVID-infected patients into elder care facilities, infecting the most vulnerable, and causing thousands of unnecessary deaths. However, this doesn’t mean he gets a pass from the leftists, who were completely on board with his deadly policies. Leftists also despise Cuomo because he was accused of harassing women.

In sum, Cuomo is a morally reprehensible man viewed from either side of the aisle, but he’s also a functional executive.

And then there’s Zohran Mamdani, a Uganda-born, East Asian Indian Muslim, who is an open Marxist. If elected, he promises to implement a full roster of socialist-style policies, some of which are as follows:

  • A full freeze on rents, plus building more public housing (presumably to offset the inevitable diminution in available units)
  • “Free” public transportation (a charge on taxpayers)
  • Universal public childcare
  • A $30 minimum wage by 2030 (which will destroy small businesses and increase reliance on AI and robotics)
  • Wealth taxes to fund all his socialist policies (reminding me of the old saying, often attributed to Margaret Thatcher, that “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money”)
  • City-owned grocery stores (imagine buying your food from the DMV)
  • The usual “defund the police in favor of social workers” crime policy (the kind of stuff that caused Democrat cities’ homicide rates to soar)
  • $65 million for “gender-affirming care” (don’t get me started)
  • Fund illegal aliens and provide them with sanctuary (something that ought to stop all federal funds to NYC)

In addition to his hardcore socialist ideas, Mamdani really hates the Jews. At college, he co-founded the school’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, a group that envisions Israel’s overthrow, and he supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which has long sought Israel’s economic destruction. Mamdani has relentlessly campaigned against Israel’s well-being. Significantly, he’s also refused to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada,” an expression that inherently calls for America’s destruction.

Despite Mamdani’s radicalism, which sees him backing policies that have brought about the decline of cities across the world, and his fairly open antisemitism, he is currently on track to win in the New York Democrat primaries thanks to the craziness of ranked-choice voting (“RCV”). Under RCV, voters don’t vote for just one candidate, and the person with the most votes doesn’t necessarily win.

In an RCV system, voters rank all the candidates in order of preference. If one candidate gets more than 50% of the first-rank votes, that candidate wins. However, if no candidate gets more than 50% of the first-rank votes, a complicated algorithm starts assigning points to the various candidates. If the most popular candidate didn’t also get ranked second or third, a less popular candidate who has lots of lower rankings can actually win.

And that’s how you end up with this poll:

Lefty upstart Zohran Mamdani has leapfrogged over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the city’s ranked choice Democratic primary for mayor, according to a stunning new poll released Monday.

While Cuomo has a lead, albeit small, under a traditional system where the guy with the most votes wins, he doesn’t under the RCV system. That’s because Cuomo’s poll numbers don’t take him over the magic 50% mark:

But since no one garners the more than 50% of the vote needed to win outright, the ranked choice system kicks in. That means that even if a voter’s first choice is eliminated in successive rounds of calculations, their other picks could still be in the mix and emerge as the eventual overall winner.

Mamdani finally surpasses Cuomo in the eighth round of the simulated ranked choice voting — 51.8% to 48.2% — in the latest poll conducted June 18-20.

[snip]

“In the ranked-choice simulation, Mamdani gains 18 points compared to Cuomo’s 12, putting him ahead in the final round for the first time in an Emerson poll.”

In the last three mayoral elections, few New Yorkers bothered to show up. In 2013, only 13.4% bothered to vote. The numbers were better, although still pathetic, in 2017 (25.4%) and 2021 (23%). Very few people are deciding how New York City will be governed.

It’s to be hoped that in this Democrat primary, New York City’s few remaining sane Democrats get themselves to their local polling place and cast the vote for the sleazy old person killer, rather than the antisemitic Marxist. It’s a terrible Hobson’s choice, but New York City will definitely fare better under the former than the latter.

 

June 24, 2025 | 36 Comments »

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36 Comments / 36 Comments

  1. AI Overview

    +3
    No, the Mayor of New York City cannot legally implement policies that directly align with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, due to existing New York State laws and executive orders.
    Here’s why:
    New York State Executive Order 157: This order, issued in 2016 by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, explicitly directs state entities to divest public funds from institutions or companies that boycott Israel. This means the city, as a state entity, cannot engage in or promote any investment activity that furthers the BDS campaign.
    New York State Law: Since 2016, a New York State law has prohibited public funding or contracts with entities supporting boycotts of Israel. This further restricts the ability of a mayor to implement BDS policies through city contracts or funding.
    While a mayor cannot dictate US foreign policy, the Jerusalem Post notes that City Hall holds influence over billions of dollars in procurement contracts and sits on public-pension boards with Israeli investments. Some commentators have suggested that a BDS-sympathetic administration could use these levers to exert pressure.
    However, the legal framework established by New York State places clear restrictions on the city’s ability to directly implement policies that align with the BDS movement.

  2. So, in sum, the Mayor does not have the authority to unilaterally make any of the reforms he has proposed, except a rent freeze of rent stabilized apartments for the year through appointing the members of the board that makes the decision – that’s the one thing I agree with, being a rent stabilized long term tenant, myself like over a million of my fellow New Yorkers, but the rest is just demagogy, as Eric Adams, the current mayor, has been the only one to point out
    BUT, the one thing he can do is see to it that the police stand down and allow another Crown Heights Pogrom leading to the lynching of Jews like Yankel Rosenbaum whose murderers were acquitted of murder and ten years later of violating his civil rights. Actually, I think it was only the ring leader who was tried and in the same neighborhood by an all or mostly black jury, , which happened under Mayor David Dinkins, who was not an open extremist, like this terrorist sympathizing antisemitic recent immigrant.

    It could very well be open season on Jews if he wins.

  3. AI Overview

    +3
    While New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani can propose tax increases, he cannot unilaterally raise taxes. Any tax increases require approval from the New York State Legislature and the governor’s signature. Mamdani’s proposed tax policies, such as increasing corporate taxes and taxing high-income earners, would need to go through the state legislative process.
    Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
    Mayoral Power:
    As mayor, Mamdani can propose tax changes, but he doesn’t have the authority to implement them directly.
    State Approval:
    New York City taxes are subject to state oversight. Any tax changes must be approved by the State Legislature, which includes the State Assembly and Senate, and then signed into law by the governor.
    Mamdani’s Proposals:
    Mamdani has publicly proposed several tax-related policies, including:
    Raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5%.
    Implementing a 2% income tax on individuals earning over $1 million.
    Shifting the property tax burden to wealthier neighborhoods.
    Political Hurdles:
    While these proposals are within Mamdani’s purview to suggest, securing their passage through the state legislature could be challenging, especially if they involve significant tax increases.

  4. AI Overview

    +6
    Yes, if elected mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani would likely have the legal authority to shrink the size of the police force, but there are complexities involved.
    Here’s a breakdown of the factors:
    Mayoral Power: The mayor is the head of the city’s executive branch and typically has significant influence over city agencies, including the police department. This influence includes the ability to make budget decisions, which can impact staffing levels.
    Civil Service Law: New York State Civil Service Law Section 80 governs workforce reductions in the public sector, including layoffs. While this law establishes procedures and seniority-based rights, especially for competitive class employees, it would not necessarily prevent a mayoral decision to reduce the overall size of the police force.
    Union Contracts: The city has collective bargaining agreements with police unions, such as the Police Benevolent Association (PBA). While these contracts cover issues like pay and benefits, they also might include provisions related to staffing levels or workloads. Reducing the workforce could potentially involve negotiating with the union.
    Potential for Legal Challenges: Any decision to significantly shrink the police force could face legal challenges from the police unions or other groups arguing that it violates existing agreements or negatively impacts public safety.
    Mamdani’s Stance:
    It’s important to note that while Mamdani has historically expressed support for major cuts to the NYPD budget, he has recently stated he doesn’t plan to shrink the force’s current size. He advocates for creating a Department of Community Safety that would focus on violence prevention and mental health response, potentially shifting some responsibilities away from the NYPD.
    In summary:
    While the mayor has the authority to influence the size of the police force, a significant reduction would involve navigating legal requirements, civil service laws, and potential union negotiations. Mamdani’s current public stance suggests he favors a shift in responsibilities rather than a reduction in the total number of officers.

  5. AI Overview

    +6
    No, the Mayor of New York City does not have the authority to arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu on behalf of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
    Here’s why:
    International Law Enforcement: The ICC does not have its own police force to enforce arrest warrants. Instead, it relies on cooperation from countries that have signed and ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
    US is not a Member State: The United States is not a State Party to the Rome Statute. Although the US signed the Statute in 2000, it later formally announced its intent not to ratify it.
    Sovereignty: Under US law, the federal government handles matters related to international law and relations with foreign heads of state.
    Diplomatic Immunity: Heads of state and government generally enjoy diplomatic immunity, which includes protection from arrest in foreign countries, regardless of the purpose of their visit, under US law.
    In summary: The authority to act on ICC arrest warrants within the US rests with the federal government, not with local officials like the New York Mayor.

  6. AI Overview

    +6
    In New York City, the mayor doesn’t directly freeze rents, but they do appoint the members of the Rent Guidelines Board. This board then votes on rent adjustments for rent-stabilized apartments. The mayor’s appointees can influence the board’s decisions, and past mayors have directed their appointees to freeze rents.
    Here’s a more detailed explanation:
    Rent Stabilization:
    Rent stabilization laws in NYC protect tenants in certain buildings (those built before 1974, with some exceptions) from large rent increases.
    Rent Guidelines Board (RGB):
    This board, made up of members appointed by the mayor, sets the percentage increases for rent-stabilized apartments each year.
    Mayor’s Influence:
    While the RGB is an independent body, the mayor’s appointments carry significant weight.
    Rent Freeze Possibility:
    Past mayors, like Bill de Blasio, have directed their appointees to vote for rent freezes in certain years (2015, 2016, and 2020).
    Impact:
    A rent freeze would mean that the rent for stabilized apartments would not increase for a set period, which could provide relief to tenants facing high rents.
    Considerations:
    The RGB considers various factors when deciding on rent adjustments, including the affordability of housing, landlord expenses, and overall economic conditions.
    Current Situation:
    The current mayor, Eric Adams, has supported rent increases for stabilized apartments each year he’s been in office.
    Political Context:
    In the recent mayoral primary, a candidate, Zohran Mamdani, gained traction by promising to freeze rents. The current mayor, Eric Adams, is facing pressure to address housing affordability, and the issue of rent increases is a key topic in the upcoming election

  7. AI Overview

    +3
    While the New York City mayor doesn’t have absolute, unilateral authority to create government-owned grocery stores, they could potentially establish them through a combination of existing powers and legislative action. The mayor could utilize city resources and potentially propose new legislation to the city council to create and fund public grocery stores.
    Here’s a more detailed explanation:
    Limited Executive Authority:
    The mayor of New York City has significant executive power, including control over city agencies and budgets. This power could be leveraged to initiate studies and planning for public grocery stores.
    Potential for New Legislation:
    While the mayor can direct city resources, creating a new government-owned entity like a grocery store would likely require new legislation passed by the City Council.
    Existing Precedents:
    Although not common, there are examples of government-owned grocery stores or food retail initiatives in other parts of the world and even within the US, suggesting it’s not an unprecedented idea.
    Zohran Mamdani’s Proposal:
    There are ongoing discussions about creating government-owned grocery stores in New York City, spearheaded by City Council Member Zohran Mamdani. These discussions are still in the early stages, with details about the role of the city yet to be fully determined.
    NYC Business Resources:
    NYC.gov provides resources for businesses, including grocery stores, which demonstrates that the city is involved in regulating and supporting food retail.

  8. AI Overview

    +9
    No, the mayor of New York City does not have the unilateral authority to make the MTA free. While the mayor has some influence over the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority), the MTA is a state-level entity governed by a board appointed by the governor and other state officials. The mayor’s control is limited to certain aspects like the city’s contribution to the MTA’s budget and some operational decisions.
    Here’s why:
    MTA is a State Agency:
    The MTA is a state-level entity, not a city agency, meaning it’s primarily governed by the state government.
    Governor’s Appointees:
    The MTA board, which makes decisions about fares and other policies, is primarily composed of members appointed by the governor and other state officials.
    Limited Mayoral Authority:
    While the mayor can influence the MTA through funding and some operational decisions, they cannot single-handedly make the entire system free.
    State Approval Needed:
    Any significant changes to the MTA’s funding or operations, including making the system free, would require approval from the state legislature and potentially the governor’s signature.

  9. Reader…good advice

    Peloni and also good advice. Time we all know is of the essence.

    Plus article on Banderaism…I will write it and send it for your consideration

  10. Mamdani knows how to win elections which means he is a great politician (this is not a compliment).

    A great politician tells voters everything they want to hear, and after he wins, if his promises fail to materialize, blames whoever (and makes sure to keep his base charmed enough so they themselves keep looking for and finding excuses for his failures).

    The main point is to be a good actor.

  11. @fquigley

    Whatever other people write, your opinions are always interesting, and I happen to agree with a few of them.

    When I first saw “adios Reader”, I couldn’t figure out what it was all about.

    Please, stay and simply ignore what others say.

    If I have learned one thing in life, it is that it is impossible to change someone’s ingrained opinion by arguing with them.

    They are impossible to convince.

    1

  12. Reader

    The continual attacks on this site of the Marx tradition wasn’t part of its founding

    Joseph Alexander Norland didn’t engage in that and he followed history

    You are the only other exception

    So adios Reader

    It has worn me out. Such as Belman, Peloni and Zorn never to be fair to history

    With their conspiracy on Covid and the big one destruction of the planet…they will never change

    • @fquigley
      It will be unfortunate to see you go for good Felix. Your alternate views provide the grit of a lively debate, and you have the distinct temerity to never back away from a challenging conversation, even as you indicate that this is your intent currently. Of course, you are the best judge of how to spend your time and share your comments, but I hope to hear from you at sometime in the future, just the same.

      By the way, whatever happened to the article you were going to write?

      Take care.

  14. Mamdani has in fact won the Democratic party. That’s official news from the NYC election commiussion (I don’t know what official name of this body is). What a choice it was. The only hope for NYC’s Jews is a republican nominee with a chance to win. Either that, or making aliya to Israel.

    P.S. I just checked with Wiki and discovered that Curtis Sliva is the Republican nominee for mayor of New York City in 2025, as he was in the last mayoral election in 2021. He is the founder of the Guardian Angels volunteer crime fighters, who used to ride the subways to protect passengers when the New York City police force had collapsed almost completely as a result of budget cuts by anti-police activists on the city council and drastic cuts in aid to New York City by the state and Federal governments.

    Eric Adams, the current mayor, is also running as an independent. And there is a second independent candidate as well. Maybe they will siphen off enough votes from Mamdani to enable Sliwa to win. But only if New York’s Jews vote in large enough numbers to enable Sliwa to win. Since many New York Jews are suicidally committed liberals, that is no forgone conclusion.

  17. Mamdani is not a Marxist.

    He is a DSA member but has his own 8-member bloc, and he doesn’t belong to the DSA Marxist bloc.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zohran_Mamdani

    He was elected by those who believed in his promises (Vox populi vox Dei) among whom were probably a few New York Jews.

    After he (very likely) becomes mayor of New York, he will blame every mishap and inability to fulfill his promises on the Jews (who else?).

    What must happen before the Jews finally figure out that it is NOT their country?

  18. Wholesale attacks still on tradition of Marx learning history

    You guys ain’t going to change

    Time I upped sticks

    See pollard also…

    Sanders Joe and trump

    These guys are all great talkers

    But nothing behind but sad ol pus

    1

    • @fquigley

      “Wholesale attacks still on tradition of Marx learning history

      You guys ain’t going to change”

      Lenin called himself an Orthodox Marxist. fquigley follows suit. I am, however, undecided as to whether to classify him as a Traditional Orthodox Marxist or a Modern Orthodox Marxist. 😀

      Fiddler on the Roof – Tradition – with subtitles

      https://youtu.be/gRdfX7ut8gw?si=Onw1dtkBSE3k7mtE

      “So many questions. So many reports.” – Last line of “Questions from a Worker who Reads” by Bertolt Brecht

    • @radiok@comcast/com He did jokingly refer to Queens as ” the people’s republic of Queens.” He is a state assemblyman out of Queens. AOC who endorsed him is a congresswoman out of Queens. Don’t know if they represent all of it or just a district.

  23. This article and it’s author is as false as false can be, not the slightest doubt about it. The writer is simply a devious hater of everything to do with the Russian Revolution led by Lenin and Trotsky and inspired by Marx and Engels

    If any of those revolutionaries read this utter garbage

    ““In the ranked-choice simulation, Mamdani gains 18 points compared to Cuomo’s 12, putting him ahead in the final round for the first time in an Emerson poll.”

    …the ranked-choice simulation…

    They wouldn’t have a clue what was going on, certainly not socialist revolution

    And eventually would end up in scornful laughter at the antics

    Shame on ye all for not exposing this nonsense

    2
    2

  26. Though Cuomo’s pro-Israel credentials are impeccable. As governor, he passed the first executive order in the nation against BDS which the current governor, Hochul, has upheld, and in the 2018 gubernatorial primary, he ran as the pro-Israel candidate and his socialist opponent, actress Cynthia Nixon, was the BDS candidate. Cuomo’s media pundit brother is also gung ho pro-Israel.

    I just voted for Cuomo in the first day of early voting. I didn’t understand that the other 4 choices one makes get their voted redistributed if they don’t get 50 percent.

    In November, my first choice
    will be Republican Curtis Sliwa and my second choice will be now independent Mayor Eric Adams.

    1

    • Sebastien Zorn your hands are not clean on this either because timid little opportunist you are you did not defend Cuomo when Peloni attacked Cuomo over COVID on this very site.

      Thus opening the door to islamofascist in New York

      1

      • @fquigley And for a moment there, I thought you had decided to drop the ad hominem attacks. Pity. It just makes people tune out and ignore you, you know. Courtesy goes a long way. And as I’ve remarked before, you have a tendency to attack me when I concede you may have a point about something and retreat when confronted. This is intellectually dishonest and shows a greater regard for partisanship than pursuit of truth. Cuomo was a good governor before the pandemic but went mad during it and even threatened and singled out Jews, for which he has apologized. He is only the best the Dems have to offer in this primary. I will include him in my ranked choices but last in the general election precisely because I am not an opportunist. There are better candidates running as Republican or independents. I will vote my conscience.

        Opportunist meaning:,a person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by consistent principles or plans.

      • AI Overview

        +29
        A logical fallacy is a flaw in reasoning that renders an argument invalid. Here’s a list of common logical fallacies:
        Fallacies of Relevance: These fallacies introduce irrelevant information to distract from the main argument.
        Ad hominem: Attacking the person making the argument rather than the argument itself.
        Appeal to Authority: Claiming something is true simply because an authority figure said it, without further evidence.
        Appeal to Emotion: Using emotional manipulation to persuade instead of logic.
        Appeal to Ignorance: Arguing that something is true because it hasn’t been proven false, or vice versa.
        Appeal to Pity: Using pity to persuade the audience.
        Appeal to Popularity (Bandwagon): Claiming something is true because it’s widely believed.
        Red Herring: Introducing an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the main issue.
        Slippery Slope: Assuming that one event will inevitably lead to a series of negative consequences.
        Straw Man: Misrepresenting an opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack.
        Fallacies of Ambiguity: These fallacies rely on unclear or misleading language.
        Equivocation: Using the same word in different senses within an argument.
        Fallacies of Presumption: These fallacies involve making unwarranted assumptions.
        Begging the Question (Circular Reasoning): Assuming the conclusion is already true within the premises.
        False Dilemma (False Dichotomy): Presenting only two options when more exist.
        Hasty Generalization: Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient evidence.
        Post Hoc (False Cause): Assuming that because one event followed another, the first caused the second.
        Loaded Question: Asking a question that contains a hidden assumption.
        Other Fallacies:
        No True Scotsman: Dismissing counterexamples by redefining the category.
        Anecdotal Evidence: Using personal experiences or isolated examples instead of evidence.
        Appeal to Nature: Assuming that what is natural is good or right.
        Tu Quoque: Dismissing an argument because the person making it is also guilty of the same behavior.
        The Texas Sharpshooter: Finding a pattern in random data and then using that pattern to support a claim.

        • fquigley here in terms you understand:

          AI Overview

          +3
          Based on the search results, it appears you are asking about Leon Trotsky’s concept of conditional support, particularly in the context of political alliances or movements.
          In essence, Trotsky’s idea of “conditional support” suggests that while revolutionaries might ally with or support other political groups or movements (even those they fundamentally disagree with), this support should be conditional and strategic.
          Here’s how it relates to his broader political theory:
          United Front: Trotsky advocated for the formation of “united fronts” in certain situations. This means that in the face of a common enemy, like fascism, different working-class organizations (even those with opposing ideologies) could temporarily unite for a specific goal.
          No Blind Trust: However, this support was not to be given blindly. The revolutionaries needed to maintain their independence, continue to criticize the weaknesses and limitations of their allies, and always keep their ultimate goal of socialist revolution in sight.
          Maintaining Revolutionary Identity: Conditional support was a tactic to mobilize the masses and prepare for the eventual overthrow of the existing order. It was crucial for revolutionary parties to demonstrate their commitment to the workers’ cause while also differentiating themselves from those who would ultimately betray it.
          In summary, Trotsky’s “conditional support” was a strategic approach to political alliances, where revolutionaries would offer support to other groups based on the specific circumstances and the potential for advancing the cause of the working class and socialist revolution, while always maintaining their independent voice and working to expose the limitations of their allies.