New York City’s mayoral race has always been a spectacle, but the 2025 contest has turned into a political drama that few could have predicted. At the center of the storm is Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and self-described democratic socialist, who has drawn fire from across the political spectrum as he heads into November’s general election. With former Governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams both running as independents, and Curtis Sliwa representing the GOP, the city’s political landscape is more fractured—and more contentious—than ever.
On August 9, 2025, the race erupted online when Andrew Cuomo, fresh off a primary defeat, launched a blistering attack on Mamdani over his rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria, Queens. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) that racked up more than 26 million views, Cuomo claimed, “a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because Mr. Mamdani, a state assemblyman, was occupying her rent-controlled apartment.” He further accused Mamdani of being “rich,” noting that state assembly members earn over $140,000 a year, and called on him to “move out.”
Cuomo’s criticisms didn’t stop there. In follow-up posts, he labeled Mamdani “disgusting” and accused the assemblyman of “callous theft.” The controversy struck a nerve in a city grappling with a severe housing crisis, where roughly one million rent-stabilized apartments serve as a crucial buffer against skyrocketing rents. Cuomo’s attack was particularly pointed given his own history—he pays about $8,000 a month for his Manhattan apartment and has long been allied with the city’s real estate development industry, which opposes rent stabilization and Mamdani’s campaign pledge to freeze rents.
According to The New York Times, Mamdani pays $2,300 a month for his one-bedroom apartment, which he found when he was earning $47,000 annually. He’s since said he plans to move out, explaining to the New York Editorial Board, “I don’t plan on living in that apartment for perpetuity.” Yet Cuomo’s attack struck a chord with some voters concerned about fairness in the city’s housing market, while others saw it as a distraction from deeper issues.
The reaction was swift. Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller and a Mamdani ally, shot back on X, pointing out that “landlords removed tens of thousands of apartments from rent-stabilization, most turned over to market rates, during Mr. Cuomo’s tenure as governor.” Lander also highlighted Mamdani’s record of supporting affordable housing, dismissing Cuomo’s attack as “petty bullying.” Meanwhile, Shaun Maguire, a venture capitalist and outspoken Mamdani critic, cheered Cuomo on, writing, “It’s good to see you fighting.” Maguire himself had recently come under fire for incendiary remarks about Mamdani’s background and faith.
The housing debate isn’t just about personalities. Rent-stabilized apartments have become a lifeline for many New Yorkers, with the median rent-stabilized monthly rent at about $1,500—significantly lower than the $2,000 median for market-rate units. Median household income in rent-stabilized homes stands at $60,000, compared to $90,000 for market-rate apartments, according to recent city data. Yet there’s no requirement that these units go to lower-income tenants, and some rent-stabilized apartments now command prices well above the citywide median, especially those built under recent tax incentive programs.
Cuomo’s social media offensive was just one front in an increasingly bitter campaign. The former governor, who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal (allegations he denies), is now trying to rally wealthy donors and pressure Eric Adams to drop out, positioning himself as the only candidate who can block Mamdani’s ascent. Cuomo’s campaign, heavily financed by real estate interests, has made no secret of its opposition to rent freezes and other progressive housing policies.
Mamdani’s camp, in turn, has accused Cuomo of adopting Trump-style tactics. Dora Pekec, Mamdani’s spokeswoman, said in a statement, “Evidently Andrew Cuomo’s call with Donald Trump was not just to conspire on the New York City mayoral race, but also an opportunity for the disgraced former governor to learn the art of the Twitter crash-out from a fellow corrupt, serial sex-harasser. Cuomo is not only learning from Trump, he’s becoming him—the only thing missing is a red hat.”
The Trump connection has been another source of intrigue. Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that Trump had spoken with Cuomo about the mayoral race, though both men denied it. Trump has publicly weighed intervening in the race to block Mamdani, even discussing the contest with a pollster and a former New York City Council president. Some in Trump’s orbit hope he’ll pressure other candidates to consolidate the anti-Mamdani vote, but as Trump himself admitted, an endorsement from him would likely do little in the heavily Democratic city.
Zohran Mamdani, for his part, has tried to keep the focus on issues rather than personalities. In response to the rumors of Trump’s involvement, he told reporters, “This should be a race about who will make this city affordable, who will ensure that each and every New Yorker is safe, who will bring our city forward, not an audition for the best jester for Donald Trump and his billionaire supporters.” He added, “Whatever Donald Trump seeks to do to influence the outcome of this election, I have more faith in New Yorkers themselves.”
Not everyone wants Trump to play kingmaker. Curtis Sliwa, the GOP candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels, advised Trump to stay out of the race, telling Fox 5 (as reported by The Washington Examiner), “I would just say to the president, spend your time where it’s needed more, on geopolitical interests that affect all Americans. This election in New York City does not affect all Americans.” Sliwa argued that Trump’s involvement only benefits Mamdani: “Every day [that] it’s Trump versus Zohran Mamdani, it’s a good day for Zohran Mamdani.”
The field remains crowded and divided. Adams, after losing the Democratic primary, is running as an independent, and Cuomo has also refused to bow out, despite calls from Mamdani’s opponents to unite behind a single anti-Mamdani candidate. The result is a fractured opposition and an unpredictable race.
Even conservative voices are weighing in with surprising takes. George Will, the longtime Washington Post columnist, said on HBO’s “Real Time” that he actually hopes Mamdani wins, quipping, “I think every 20 years or so, we need a conspicuous, confined experiment with socialism so we can crack it up again.” Will, who left the Republican Party in 2016 over Trump and backed Biden in 2020, has become an unexpected advocate for letting New York voters chart their own course—even if it means a leftward turn.
With the city’s future at stake, the mayoral race has become a proxy battle for national debates over socialism, housing, and the influence of big personalities. As the candidates trade barbs and the city’s power brokers maneuver behind the scenes, one thing’s for sure: New York’s voters will have the final say on what kind of experiment they want their city to be.
