By Cindy Bregin Crouch
Emmy Winning Investigative Reporter
October 26, 2025
Anyone hoping Zohran Mamdani will lose the upcoming election for Mayor of New York City is probably going to be very disappointed. Heading into the final stretch Mamdani is leading by double digits. Wondering why? Let’s break it down.
Mamdani is gaining tremendous traction with young and working class New Yorkers. Many in this demographic when polled say they love his proposals because they feel NYC has become too pricey for low or average income residents. Another plus: Mamdani is basically luring voters in by promising free things and other discounts.
Among his most popular campaign promises:
- – free buses
- – open government run supermarkets
- – taxing individuals earning more than one million dollars an extra one percent to fund his plans
Compared to his opponents, Mamdani appears young, hip, and a lot happier than either either of the guys he’s running against. Some are even calling him “the happy warrior”. The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist seems and presents as extremely upbeat and unintimidated. All three candidates were asked during a recent debate if they’ve “ever purchased anything in a cannabis shop.” Mayoral hopeful Mamdani said while laughing, “I have purchased marijuana at a legal cannabis shop.” Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa affirmed he “did use medical marijuana” after being “shot five times” during an incident in 1992. Sliwa also said he used medical marijuana to treat symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo answered with a very flat and boring “no”. You might remember Cuomo signed legislation into law in 2021 legalizing marijuana. Cuomo resigned due to an unrelated controversy later that year. And yes, you’re not crazy. Cuomo is a lifelong Democrat. However, he was forced to run as an independent after Mamdani won the Democratic primary by a sizable margin.
Mamdani is not without controversy. He was born in Uganda and became an American citizen in 2018. Vice President JD Vance recently had Mamdani in his crosshairs over remarks the 33-year-old Socialist made about how his Aunt suffered in a post 9/11 world. Vance posted to X, ‘According to Zohran the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks’. Vance also reshared footage of Mamdani making the comments outside of a mosque in the Bronx. ‘I want to speak to the memory of my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after September 11 because she did not feel safe in her hijab,’ Mamdani said. The internet exploded:
‘These theatrics are disgusting. Everything about Zohran Mamdani is vile and intrinsically anti-West’ – social media poster
‘She was THE real victim on 9/11. Really? That’s about the stupidest statement ever.’ – another social media poster.
‘Yeah, those 3000 people who died have nothing on auntie’s feelings.’
On CNN Scott Jennings said, ‘There was one big thing missing from Zohran Mamdani’s emotional remarks about 9/11. Any mention of the VICTIMS of the worst terror attack on U.S. soil. What are we to infer from this?’ Jennings added he felt it was wrong for Mamdani to hijack 9/11 and make it all about himself and his family, especially since he is running for mayor. He has a point. If New Yorkers agree on anything, it’s 9/11. It still defines a major shift in New York City and also for America. So many things changed after 3,000 people died in that terror attack. If you boil down to the core of Jenning’s feelings, he’s trying to make the point a candidate for mayor should put the feelings of New Yorkers first before he focuses on his family and their personal post 9/11 pain.
The Jewish community in New York City has voiced major concern regarding Mamdani’s pro-Palestine views. They also disagree with his promise to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot in NYC during his term, should Mamdani win.
President Trump has called Mamdani a ‘communist’ so many times the world has lost count. Mamdani then labeled himself ‘Trump’s worst nightmare.’ Time will very quickly tell whether Zohran Mamdani, the assemblyman, will become Mayor Mamdani. Stay tuned.
