Zohran Mamdani BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.
Zohran Mamdani is dominating New York City’s political chatter this week after emerging as the clear frontrunner for mayor, going into the final stretch before Election Day. Two major polls dropped, giving Mamdani eye-popping leads. Quinnipiac University clocked him at 45 percent, an enormous 22 points ahead of Andrew Cuomo, 15 for Curtis Sliwa, and a bruised 12 for Eric Adams, now scraping by as an independent according to Fox News. Public Policy Polling corroborated the story, pointing to Mamdani with a strong 39 percent share. Notably, these numbers not only speak to his personal popularity, but also reflect broad discontent: two-thirds of likely voters want change and disapprove of Adams, giving Mamdani’s promise of something new real traction. Meanwhile, a UMass Lowell poll mirrored these trends, noting Mamdani has a commanding 19-point margin over Cuomo.
On the campaign trail, Mamdani has made strategic moves to broaden his appeal, especially on policing. Earlier in the week he publicly stated he will apologize for a 2020 social media blast where he called the NYPD “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety,” as confirmed by his campaign to amNewYork and reported widely in city media. This marks a significant pivot from his prior support for defunding the police, now pledging to maintain NYPD headcount and launching proposals for alternative, non-police responses to some public safety calls. His comments earned some measured respect from NYPD union boss Patrick Hendry, but skepticism remains. Even Governor Kathy Hochul weighed in, telling News 12 she was relieved Mamdani committed to earning police respect and saw his apology as “an appropriate response.” Cuomo, for his part, quickly attacked Mamdani’s policing stances as flip-flopping, accusing him of rewriting his own record.
In moments that could have lasting impact, Mamdani was in the spotlight with high-profile allies. Bernie Sanders campaigned at Brooklyn College shoulder-to-shoulder with Mamdani, rallying progressives and declaring that the race was about fighting back in “an unprecedented way.” Bloomberg made headlines by meeting Mamdani for the first time Thursday, discussing transportation, policing, and staffing at City Hall—remarkably after Bloomberg endorsed Cuomo in the primary and shelled out $8 million backing him.
Social media saw Mamdani ramping up direct outreach to police officers and voters, with enthusiastic TikTok activity and engagement. Mainstream news outlets, including ABC and Fox 5, highlighted how his campaign’s energy among supporters has set a new tone for the mayoral race.
If Mamdani wins, he’d be the first Muslim and first millennial mayor in New York City’s history—a detail that’s turned his campaign into more than just an election, but potentially a generational shift for America’s biggest city.
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