FROMA HARROP

Zohran Mamdani seemed to hit the political jackpot in besting former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. Hyper commentary now portrays this once obscure state assemblyman from Queens as a political meteor. The thing about meteors is that they burn bright for a while and then fall. Mamdani is unlikely to win the general election in November for several reasons. Meanwhile, a big explanation for his shocking win has been underreported. That comes at the end.

Mamdani has a history of inflammatory comments that he’s hid under a veneer of an amiable charmer who wants nothing more than to lower the high cost of living in New York. Come the general election, those remarks will be shouted on billboards.

A new one emerged over the weekend, when he told a group in Harlem that he would raise taxes on “richer and whiter neighborhoods.” That, he explained, would bring relief to “overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs.”

Whoa. Set aside the astounding idea of linking tax rates to race. The reality is that all New York neighborhoods are racially mixed to some extent, many to a large extent. In addition, home prices in parts of brownstone Brooklyn and Queens now rival and exceed those in all but the most expensive corners of Manhattan.

This obsession with Manhattan reflects the myth that it is an exclusive white enclave. In fact, white residents comprise only half of Manhattan’s population, and that includes Hispanic whites, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Mamdani himself lives in rapidly gentrifying Astoria, a Queens enclave that is 43% white.

It was understandable that Mamdani made a beeline for Harlem. Despite his racialized politics, Cuomo got far more black votes than he did. Cuomo’s support was more than double that of Mamdani in precincts where at least 70% of residents were Black.

These voters understand that heated demand set off by the large influx of immigrants and college-educated young people, Mamdani’s base, have sharply raised housing costs in traditionally Black neighborhoods. Long-time residents are getting priced out, with many leaving the city.

Mamdani is on the record wanting to “defund the police.” In 2020, he smeared the New York Police Department as “wicked and corrupt.” A smaller police presence is the privilege of young professionals who live in relatively safe neighborhoods (and find “Democratic Socialist” a fashionable label). They complain about $20 cocktails, poor things.

Many, if not most, Jewish voters will take exception to Mamdani’s call to “globalize the intifada.” Mamdani is now trying to sweet-talk Jews. Nothing personal, he’s saying.

More attention must be paid to the weather on primary day. June 24 saw triple-digit heat and high humidity that made parts of the city feel like 126 degrees. Temperatures in Central Park broke a record set in 1888. No doubt many Cuomo supporters, comforted by polls showing their candidate with a commanding lead, thought they could take the day off from voting.

And much else. Hair salons reported that many customers, especially older ones, canceled their appointments that day. That says a lot: Others could elect Cuomo. Only Mika could cut their hair.

Cuomo’s likely removal from the November ballot has resurrected the campaign of Mayor Eric Adams. For all his scandals, Adams is suddenly looking less problematic. He is also Black and a former police captain.

“They have a record of tweets,” Adams said of the Mamdani base. “I have a record on the streets.”

Is his victory over Cuomo a “political earthquake”? Doubtful. Chances are good that on a cool Tuesday in November, when the stakes of not voting seem clearer, Mamdani will not be chosen as the next mayor of New York City.

Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators webpage at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM