What Donald Trump desires for the New York City mayoral election this autumn is quite clear. Mysteriously, he doesn’t fancy backing Curtis Sliwa, the unconventional Republican candidate known for his beret and feline fixation. The incumbent Mayor, Eric Adams, who has questionable deals with Trump, is also not on his support list. Instead, Trump’s strategy seems to be geared towards promoting Andrew Cuomo, the ex-Governor of the state, against Zohran Mamdani, a young leftist who outperformed Cuomo in a surprise Democratic primary win in June.
But why is Trump displaying this unusual favoritism toward Cuomo whose history with him has been rocky at the best of times? The reasons behind this preference aren’t fully understood. It’s likely that Mamdani’s Muslim background and his label as a ‘communist’ in Trump’s dictionary are factors. Perhaps the meteoric rise of an energetic, youthful force in a political landscape is perceived as a risk.
The mystery deepens when you consider that Trump is pushing Sliwa and Adams to leave the race, though this seems unlikely. Sliwa has been adamant about staying in the race and Adams, who has recently presided over a conference, has assured that he won’t be backing out anytime soon.
Support for Mamdani is quite contrary to Trump’s position. Several politicians have openly endorsed the young candidate. Buoyed by this, Mamdani has received the backing of quite a few important labor unions and until the end of August, a third of the city council stood behind him.
However, the road for Mamdani is far from smooth. Powerful Democrats seem to be withholding their endorsements, probably due to his critical stance about Israel. This non-endorsement trend appears to be more than just a national phenomenon; it also extends to local politics.
It’s comprehensible that some Democrats might be cautious about the narrative being built around Mamdani, labeling him as a young, Muslim, and a democratic socialist. The fear of Republican backlash, who have used this narrative against other Democratic hopefuls, also makes them hesitant.
Their reluctance to endorse Mamdani not only suggests possible insecurities, but also raises unsettling questions about future political games that could leave candidates like Mamdani stranded and open to attacks.
Moreover, this hesitation among Democrats could potentially backfire. It cannot be denied that Mamdani is a vibrant and appealing candidate who has the ability to rally the middle-class voters, including renters and young Asian and Hispanic groups- demographic cohorts critical for Democratic success.
The post Trump Stirs Pot in NYC Mayor Race, Favors Problematic Cuomo over Young Challenger appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
