New York’s Broken Political System is Going to Elect Mamdani

Peloni:  This is a very concerning report.  Mamdani alone has a base motivated to turn out to vote for him, and his opposition is splitting what might be the only chance to defeat him.  While Len Grunstein was correct in calling for a fusion candidate to face Mamdani, it will take one candidate, not four, and one which has at least some public appeal to match and defeat that of Mamdani.  New York City stands upon the precipice of even greater destruction in this race.

By Daniel Greenfield | July 8, 2025

Photo by Bingjiefu He – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikipedia

46% of New Yorkers would never vote for Mamdani, or the other candidates…

I know it’s fashionable in certain circles to sneer or cheer that a Muslim Communist is the Dem nominee for Mayor of New York City, but if you remember 9/11 or the BLM riots, you know that what happens in big cities doesn’t stay in them.

And no, this is not because New Yorkers are the worst people on earth. As I showed, Mamdani only won the votes of between 5% and 7% of New Yorkers. The primary had less than 30% turnout for Dems. Mamdani’s base turned out, but it also turned out that no one was enthusiastic about voting for Cuomo. And who can blame them.

Despite that, Cuomo is staying in. Mayor Eric Adams is still running. As is Curtis Sliwa on the Republican line. Between them they’ll elect Mamdani.

The polling is pretty clear.

46% of New Yorkers would never vote for Mamdani, but 51% would never vote for Adams and 39% would never vote for Cuomo.

Mamdani polls at 41%, Cuomo at 26%, Eric Adams at 16% and Sliwa at 9%.

A single candidate people could credibly vote for might beat Mamdani, but there’s no such candidate. Cuomo is a loathesome creature whom most people hate. Eric Adams isn’t likely to get much beyond the black and some Jewish votes. And Sliwa will get whatever is left of the conservative vote.

Now as we saw with previous polling, none of this matters. Turnout does. Mamdani’s leftist and Muslim base will turn out full bore. Will Cuomo and Adams voters? We already know the answer.

Yes, it’s easy to blame anyone willing to vote for Mamdani (and for that matter anyone staying home), but look at it from an apolitical standpoint (and most people are apolitical), the political establishment failed them, Cuomo and Adams are discredited candidates representing the past, while Mamdani is promising change. And some people will vote for change just to send a message to the establishment.

In this case that’s stupid and suicidal, but running against Mamdani is not enough. I called it “dead rat politics”. You can’t just run for office by pointing at your opponent and shouting he’s terrible. Even if it’s true. Nor can you ask voters to eat a dead rat because the alternative is worse.

Even if Adams and Cuomo work out some sort of deal (and that’s unlikely because neither care about anything beyond themselves), will voters turn out insufficient numbers to beat out the motivated Mamdani base?

New York’s establishment political system is falling to the far left because it locked out Republicans and anyone unwilling to reject radical leftist politics and now the far left is pushing even farther and it can’t offer an alternative to them.

July 12, 2025 | 15 Comments »

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  1. AI Overview

    New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani secured 565,639 votes in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary after three rounds of ranked-choice voting.
    This win made him the candidate with the most votes in New York City primary history, according to the New York Post. Mamdani’s campaign stated that over 545,000 New Yorkers voted for him, the highest number for a Democratic primary candidate in 36 years. This victory was widely interpreted as a mandate for his progressive agenda, including policies such as a citywide rent freeze and taxpayer-funded childcare.

  2. AI Overview

    +11
    Based on the most recent information available, New York City has a significant number of registered voters, but the exact number can vary depending on whether you’re looking at registered voters (those eligible to vote) or actual voters (those who participated in a particular election).
    Here’s a breakdown:
    Registered Voters: New York City has nearly 4.7 million active registered voters. In fact, in 2022, the City had nearly 5 million registered voters. A more recent estimate puts the number of registered voters at over 4.5 million, representing 81.8% of the voting-age population. Another source cites more than 7.4 million registered voters in New York City, with varying percentages across boroughs.
    Voter Turnout (Active Voters): While registration is high, turnout in New York City elections has been historically low, especially in local elections. For example:
    In the 2024 presidential election, 2.8 million voters participated, representing 60.2% of registered voters.
    In contrast, in the 2021 mayoral election, only 23% of registered voters participated. This means only around 1 million people voted in that election.
    Important Notes:
    Inactive vs. Active Voters: It’s important to distinguish between registered voters who are actively participating and those who are registered but may not be voting regularly. The figures above often focus on the pool of “active” voters, which can differ from the total number of registered individuals.
    Voter Eligibility: To be eligible to vote in New York City, you must be a US citizen, a New York City resident for at least 30 days, 18 years old by Election Day, not be imprisoned for a felony conviction, and not have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court. You may pre-register at 16 or 17, but you must be 18 to vote.
    Party Affiliation: New York City has a significant proportion of voters registered with the Democratic Party, followed by unaffiliated voters (21.1%), and then Republican voters (11.0%).
    Impact of Turnout: The disparity between registered voters and active voters highlights the issue of voter engagement and turnout in New York City. Despite a large number of eligible voters, participation in many elections, particularly local ones, remains a concern for civic organizations.

  3. Cuomo pulled out of the race for Mayor and endorsed Mamdani after he lost the primary to him, He is not now a candidate for mayor in the general election. Many people seem unaware of this.

    • Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams face calls to unite behind 1 NYC mayoral candidate — though neither appears willing to drop out
      An expert said it’s unlikely any candidates will want to withdraw.
      By Oren Oppenheim
      July 11, 2025, 10:34 AM

      https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/andrew-cuomo-eric-adams-face-calls-unite-1/story?id=123645166

      Jim Walden is another pro-Israel independent candidate in the race. When I saw the film, “October 8th in the theater, I spoke to a woman who said she was going to vote for him.

      So, there’s 4 pro-Israel candidates splitting the anti-Mamdani vote. No one will withdraw. It will have to be about turnout because it will be a free-for-all, every man for himself, and devil take the hindmost. Coalition is out. No point in wasting any more time pursuing it. When I went to vote in a record heatwave, the place was empty. though early voting was a whole week and I voted the first day.

      When voter turnout is low, the left has a chance. That’s why traditionally, they start with school board elections which anyone can run for but hardly anyone bothers to turn out to vote for.

      At a minimum, a run-off between two pro-Israel candidates is possible.

      https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/07/heres-whos-running-new-york-city-mayor-2025/401994/

      Mamdani ran an “anyone but Cuomo” campaign.

      The quartet should reciprocate with an “anyone but Mamdani campaign.” Let’s call it, “proportionality.” 😀

  4. Not necessarily. If Jewish organizations mobilize Jewish voters to vote against Mamdani, he can be defeated. Whether they will do so is anybody’s guess. Perhaps some Christian organizations (The Knights of Columbus?) could be persuaded to bring out Catholic and other Christian voters to vote against Mamdani. After all, it could be pointed out to them that the jihadists cum Islamists who back Mamdani’s slogan is “first the Saturday people, then the Sunday people.” Churches have been the favorite target of the Islamists in France. Even French cathedrals. Do New York’s Christians really want to import this situation to New York?

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  5. My comment:

    Victor Davis Hansen pointed out that the most affluent group is Indian-Americans, Mamdani’s group. So, it’s not success. It’s antisemitism paired with the neo-Marxist post-colonialist ideology. The left conflates Israel and America. That’s why I was chased around a restaurant by a drunken white student at the Union Theological Seminary from New Zealand shouting, “Americans ought to be gassed” some years ago.

    “I don’t think he is going to win. Mamdani critizied over Jewish mocking post.” Skye News Australia interview

    https://youtu.be/waCpV0L6G80?si=1oYeQATAHtwFcqqa

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    • I asked AI your question and got:

      AI Overview

      +14
      Currently, undocumented immigrants in New York City are not allowed to vote in any elections.
      While a law passed in 2022 by the City Council aimed to allow certain non-citizens (including legal permanent residents and individuals authorized to work) to vote in local elections, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled it unconstitutional in March 2025.
      This ruling means that for now, only U.S. citizens can vote in New York City elections.
      The legal debate surrounding non-citizen voting in NYC highlighted arguments both for and against it:
      Arguments for non-citizen voting
      Advocates for noncitizen voting argue for more inclusion as a matter of justice and democracy, particularly in communities with large immigrant populations whose concerns may be overlooked by the city government.
      It’s argued that noncitizens pay taxes and contribute to their communities, thus deserving a voice in local governance.
      Arguments against non-citizen voting
      Opponents, including some Republican lawmakers and organizations, argued that noncitizen voting dilutes the vote of citizens and raises logistical and legal challenges.
      The New York State Constitution explicitly states that “every citizen shall be entitled to vote,” which was a key factor in the court’s decision.
      The impact of potential noncitizen voting on NYC elections has been a subject of speculation and debate.
      A 2014 study suggested that noncitizen voters could have a significant impact on municipal elections, depending on factors like residency requirements and voter turnout.
      However, other analyses suggested that actual participation might be modest, potentially leading to a minimal impact on overall voter turnout and election outcomes.
      Important to note
      The issue of noncitizen voting is distinct from the broader issue of illegal immigration’s impact on the city, which encompasses various social, economic, and political dimensions.
      Claims of widespread illegal voting by non-citizens have been largely unfounded, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.
      The legal battle over non-citizen voting in NYC demonstrates the ongoing debate about voting rights and civic engagement.

  8. Sorry, but I live here and I think Mayor Adams has done a terrific job apart from appointing members of the Rent Stabilization Board who have determined unfairly high increases (which more than anything else will sink him. The Met Council on Housing is campaigning for rent freeze, his signature issue, though it was Brad Lander’s, too.) Also TDS since too many people believe the nonsensical corruption charges (much like Bibi and Trump’s) which this Justice Dept. cancelled. I mean think about it, he was accused of allowing the Turkish government to take over the building it bought without fixing building code violations in exchange for – wait for it – frequent flier miles on Turkish Airlines. 😀

    Biden’s “justice” dept. began targeting him when he criticized the government for dumping illegal aliens on NYC without providing money for their upkeep.

    Meanwhile, Mamdani’s campaign has had serious violations, even possible fraud which show that all of his campaign money is bundled and that he is a manufactured candidate. The legacy media adores him. Mamdani may be a Manchurian Candidate.

    I actually feel safe walking down the street. This year, there were no shootings on July 4th, for
    the first time! And I haven’t seen any homeless encampments in a while. The police have protected Jewish communities and ICE from jihadists. There are police everywhere. He was a police captain, before he was Brooklyn Borough President, State Assemblyman, and Mayor, and he’s a small landlord. He’s the only qualified candidate, and he’s the only Trump-aligned candidate. Curtis Sliwa has the same program but no experience.

    But the polling is indeed scary. There’s 4 anti- Mamdani candidates. Though, the record heat wave and low voter turnout may have affected the primary and miracles happen. But, This golden age may be ending.

    • Thank you for that interesting perspective. I am grateful that you can put NYC in proper perspective as a resident, when the media appears to be attempting to convince everyone that something that happens in a couple of neighborhoods means THE WHOLE CITY is a wreck. You are not the first person who has also tried to put NYC in perspective. Another person who is not a New Yorker went to visit and realized the city was not that much different from the way it was 10 or 15 years ago or more.

      Mamdani lied on his immigration form. He did not admit to being a Communist and if you are a naturalized citizen you cannot be a Communist.

      The big support for Mamdani is, no surprise, Silicon Valley and Hollywood elites. I guess destroying California wasn’t enough for them, they want to try to dismantle NYC too.

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