Michael Rapaport, the brash New York-born actor and comedian, has always been a force to be reckoned with—on screen, behind the mic, and now, in the political arena. On January 5, 2026, Rapaport made headlines with a bold declaration: he's running for mayor of New York City in 2029. The announcement, delivered in his signature no-nonsense style via Instagram and his podcast, was as much a shot across the bow at the city’s new leadership as it was a campaign kickoff.
Rapaport’s entry into the political fray comes at a moment of intense transition for New York. On January 1, 2026, Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, was sworn in as the city’s new mayor. According to the Times of India, Mamdani’s inauguration was an unconventional affair—held in an abandoned subway station beneath City Hall, with the new mayor taking his oath on two Qur’ans, supported by his artist wife Rama Duwaji. While much of the city has been swept up in the excitement of Mamdani’s historic, barrier-breaking ascent, not everyone is on board. Rapaport, for one, has made his opposition clear—and loud.
In the weeks leading up to and following Mamdani’s swearing-in, Rapaport unleashed a torrent of criticism. On his podcast, he referred to himself repeatedly as "Mayor Rapaport," setting the stage for his announcement. "Let me tell you something, guys, girls, women, children of all ages. 2025 was crazy, and I don't see it getting any f---ing calmer or cooler in 2026, the way things started. That's why I'm running for mayor," he declared. The message was echoed in an Instagram post shared on January 1, where he wrote, "Born. Raised. NYC. Nothing's free. No bulls---. No fake grins. I'll own my mistakes, apologise when I screw up, and fight to make this city safe, affordable, and thriving. You got Zoron the Moron now... Mayor Rapaport is coming." (Times of India)
Rapaport’s campaign platform, as he’s outlined it so far, is built on blunt honesty and tough love. "I will be running my campaign on the fact that nothing will be free," he said in his Instagram video, as reported by The Hill. "I will do my best to make New York City affordable, but you will be getting nothing for free. I’m not gonna lie to you. I’m not gonna bulls‑‑‑ you." He further promised, "I will do my best to make New York City safe, affordable and thriving. Every single time I make a mistake, I will acknowledge it, I will apologize and I won’t do [it] with a s‑‑‑eating grin."
The 55-year-old’s campaign is as much a reaction to Mamdani’s leadership as it is a reflection of his own worldview. Rapaport has been a vocal supporter of Israel, particularly in the wake of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. According to The Jerusalem Post, Rapaport’s advocacy for Israel became a defining element of his public persona after that day. He began posting activist-style videos, appeared at pro-Israel rallies in Washington, D.C., and Tel Aviv, and was even featured in the documentary "October 8." He’s made repeated trips to Israel, visiting sites impacted by violence and speaking at rallies, describing these visits as "personal and formative."
Rapaport’s criticism of Mamdani has centered on the new mayor’s positions regarding Israel and his perceived unwillingness to denounce certain controversial slogans. Last year, Mamdani, then a state Assembly member, declined to fully denounce the phrase "globalize the intifada." In an interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, Rapaport declared, "Whether he wins or loses, it is a slap in the face that this person will not even have the decency and the courage to articulate exactly what ‘globalize the intifada’ means." (The Hill)
The actor’s opposition to Mamdani has only intensified since the mayoral transition. On his podcast, Rapaport didn’t mince words. He called Mamdani "Zohran the Moron," "Zohran the Zero," and "Zohran the Ziophobe," accusing him of having a "huge ego" and being "up to no good." He even went so far as to say, "We have a s--- stain at the helm right now in New York City, and it is a reality. It is a f---ing reality. I think he's going to supersede our wildest fears and expectations." Rapaport’s rhetoric, while undeniably coarse, has struck a chord with a segment of New Yorkers uneasy with the city’s new direction. (Times of India)
But Rapaport’s campaign is not just about opposition. It’s also about identity, pride, and what he sees as the true spirit of New York. Born on March 20, 1970, to a family with Ashkenazi Jewish roots from Russia and Poland, Rapaport grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, he described himself as a "very classic New York lox and bagels Jew," and recounted how his father instilled in him a deep sense of Jewish pride and a refusal to "act scared." That ethos has carried through his career, from his roles in films like "True Romance" and "Higher Learning," to his directorial work on "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest," to his ever-outspoken social media presence.
In February 2024, Rapaport celebrated a delayed rite of passage: his bar mitzvah, held in Israel at age 53. The moment, he said, was a powerful affirmation of his roots and his commitment to his community. As he told Ynet, "We’re going to be OK," pointing to the perseverance of the Jewish spirit and the strength of community solidarity. He’s also been candid about the backlash he’s faced for his advocacy. "I get threatened on social media," he said, describing the "stereotypes and the tropes and the prejudices" that come with being outspoken. Professionally, the costs have been real: canceled comedy shows, lost acting jobs, and strained relationships. Yet, as he told i24, "I’ve lost acting jobs over my Israel advocacy but I don’t have the slightest regret... it was not a choice."
Rapaport’s campaign for mayor is, in many ways, an extension of this lifelong commitment to speaking out, even when it’s unpopular. He’s called on fellow Jewish entertainers to do the same, criticizing what he sees as a tendency to "have their eyes on their careers" rather than standing up for their community. "There are many ways to fight. Find your voice, educate yourself, stay close to other Jews, and be proud," he urged supporters recently. "The Jewish people are going nowhere. Israel is going nowhere."
As the 2029 mayoral race looms on the distant horizon, it’s clear that Michael Rapaport’s candidacy will be anything but conventional. Whether he can parlay his celebrity, candor, and outsider status into a viable political movement remains to be seen. But if there’s one thing New Yorkers can count on, it’s that Rapaport won’t be quiet about what he believes—or about the city he’s determined to shake up.
