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Hindustan Times
22 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
What is Zohran Mamdani's net worth? All about Indian-origin New York City Mayoral candidate's earnings, properties
Zohran Mamdani has emerged as the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City by defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo. In 2025, Zohran Mamdani declared his intention to run for mayor of New York City. New York mayoral candidate State Rep. Zohran Mamdani's net worth was mostly made up of his state pay and a small income from his previous musical career.(Getty Images via AFP) According to recent trends, the 33-year-old received 43.5% of the vote, while Cuomo finished in second with 36.3%. Mamdani's net worth was mostly made up of his state pay and a small income from his previous musical career. Mamdani and NYC mayoral election in November With this triumph, Mamdani was able to guarantee his place as the Democratic contender for the NYC mayoral election, which are scheduled to take place on November 4, 2025. Mamdani, the Indian-origin, Uganda-born, New York City-raised, will face incumbent Eric Adams, who became mayor on the Democratic Party line in 2021 but is running for reelection as an independent for a second term after being charged with federal corruption in September 2024 and being pressured to step down. Zohran was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to New York as a kid with his mother, the celebrated director Mira Nair, and father, the renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani. The major factor influencing Mamdani's personal financial impact has been his own job, despite the fact that his well-known family indicates exposure to significant cultural and educational resources. Also Read: Zohran Mamdani's victory over Cuomo sparks outrage among MAGA supporters as 9/11 warning issued: 'Jihadist, dangerous' What is Zohran Mamdani's net worth? Mamdani has served as the representative for Queens' 36th Assembly District since 2020. His most recent 2024 tax returns show that he was paid $131,000 year as a state lawmaker. Additionally, he earned $1,267 in song royalties from his past hip-hop endeavors while going by the name 'Mr. Cardamom.' Following graduation, he tried his hand at rapping and worked on his mother's movie sets. During his brief musical career, he recorded many songs, including Nani and Sidda Mukyaalo. Forbes estimates Mamdani's net worth to be between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000 (about Rs. 1.6 crore to Rs. 2.5 crore). After obtaining US citizenship in 2018, he contested for a seat in the New York State Assembly in 2020. He receives $1,42,000 (about ₹ 1.18 crore) annually for the job. He continues to collect modest royalty checks from his previous musical endeavors totaling around $1,267 (roughly ₹ 1.05 lakh) year, according to Music Essentials. It has been 25 years since Mamdani came to the United States. According to official records, he owns four acres of land in Jinja, Uganda, and it costs around $1,50,000 and $2,50,000. If Mamdani win the November election, he would become the youngest NYC Mayor after Hugh John Grant, who was elected at the age of 30 in 1889. He will also create history by becoming the city's first Muslim mayor.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Zohran Mamdani Net Worth: This is how much Mira Nair's son made as a representative and from hip hop
Zohran Kwame Mamdani is scripting history. The Indian-origin, Uganda-born, New York City-raised has etched his name in the pages of history as he is one step closer to becoming the first ever South Asian and Muslim mayor of NYC – who also happens to be the child of immigrants. The 33-year-old has emerged as the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, after Andrew Cuomo, the former (and 'disgraced') governor of NYC, decided to concede, saying, 'Tonight is his night.' With this victory, Mamdani secured his seat as the Democratic nominee for the 2025 New York City mayoral election, set to occur on November 4. Mamdani will be contesting against the incumbent, Eric Adams, who was elected mayor on the Democratic Party line in 2021, but is seeking re-election to a second term as an independent, after being indicted on federal corruption charges in September 2024 and facing calls to resign from office. If you go by the stereotypes of a glossy resume, Mamdani doesn't have much to offer. What he has is grit, the bold ambitions for his city, NYC, and its fellow citizens, and the determination to stay grounded through it all. He doesn't have a loaded bank account to boast, but the worth he has built over the years – has skyrocketed, thanks to humility and his pro-people and policy-driven politics. Take a look. Net worth of Zohran Mamdani: Born in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran immigrated to New York as a child with his family, including his father, noted academic Mahmood Mamdani, and his mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair . Although Mamdani's prominent family suggests exposure to substantial cultural and educational capital, his personal financial footprint has been shaped mainly by his own career. Personal income: Since 2020, Mamdani has represented Queens' 36th Assembly District. According to his most recent 2024 tax filings, his compensation as a state legislator was $131,000 per year. In addition, he received $1,267 in music royalties from his previous hip-hop activities under the moniker 'Mr. Cardamom.' On the surface, the combination of legislative salary and minor artistic earnings suggests modest personal income – far from billionaire status – reflecting a public servant who is financially grounded in elected office. Campaign fundraising and public matching funds: Beyond personal income, Mamdani's campaign finances offer compelling insight into his financial profile – especially as a 2025 NYC mayoral candidate. Private contributions: Early in the race, Mamdani raised $642,339 from 6,502 donors within the first 80 days. By March, his campaign period haul increased to $845,000 from around 16,000 donors. As of June, filings indicated $1.7 million in private funds raised. His campaign, since day on, has been powered by people – in stark contrast to his opponent Andrew Cuomo, who has been bankrolled by billionaires. Public matching funds: New York City's 8‑to‑1 public matching program has been a game-changer for Mamdani. From the initial round, roughly $300,000 was eligible, triggering an estimated $2.4 million in public matching funds. In total, he secured $6.7 million from public matching as of mid‑June. Combining private and public funds, his campaign had managed to raise $8.4 million – hitting the $8 million spending cap for primary campaigns. These figures not only reflect robust grassroots support – especially via small-donor contributions – unmediated by major corporate or oligarchic influence, but also a financial profile rooted not in wealth accumulation but in community engagement and public trust. Estimated net worth: Zohran Mamdani is a compelling example of a politician whose net worth is defined by public service, not private wealth. What does his net worth look like? Although he hasn't released a traditional financial disclosure akin to wealthy politicians, available data allow us to sketch reasonable parameters. His income: $131,000 from legislative work, plus $1,267 from music royalties. Assets and liabilities: No known real estate holdings or investment portfolios have been publicly disclosed. Living likely in the NYC rental market or a modest suburban home. No evidence of significant debts beyond typical mortgages or loans. Campaign Funds: Legally, campaign funds are not personal assets. Thus, the $8.4 million is strictly campaign property, separate from personal net worth. Given this, Mamdani's net worth likely falls in the low six-figure range – possibly between $150,000 and $300,000, depending on savings, any undisclosed personal assets, and debt. He does not appear to be a millionaire based on publicly disclosed data. And this only adds up to his favor. Mamdani's modest net worth bolsters his progressive messaging – affordability, rent freezes, universal childcare, free buses – allowing him to connect authentically with working and middle-class New Yorkers. Opponents may question his administrative readiness ('light resume' critiques by Cuomo), but his financial profile reinforces credibility in standing up to Wall Street and elite-dominated systems. More importantly, he embodies the figure of a public servant without vested elite financial interests – which comes off as a refreshing change in the political arena where most big-shot players are either billionaires or backed by them. 'We proved no one is above the law': Letitia James after Donald Trump fined in NY Civil Fraud Case
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who are Zohran Mamdani's parents? All about father Mahmood Mamdani and mother Mira Nair
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a rising star in New York City politics, now holding a lead in the Democratic primary for mayor, however, ranked-choice voting is looming before we know who will take the reins at City Hall. Rising political star Zohran Mamdani, influenced by his activist parents, leads the Democratic primary for NYC mayor. Photographer: Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg(Bloomberg) On Tuesday, as he is leading the NYC Mayoral Election, Andrew Cuomo congratulated Zohran, saying, 'Tonight was not our night. Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani's night, and he put together a great campaign.' 'He touched young people and he inspired them and moved them, and got them to come out and vote. And he really ran a highly impactful campaign. I called him. I congratulated him. I applaud him sincerely for his effort.' ALSO READ| Zohran Mamdani: Indian-origin NYC mayoral candidate ahead of Andrew Cuomo in new poll Who are Zohran Mamdani's parents? Zohran was born on 18 October 1991 in Kampala, Uganda, to Professor Mahmood Mamdani, an extremely respected political thinker, and Mira Nair, a renowned Indian-American filmmaker. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Uganda-born Indian scholar, whose works on colonialism, political violence and African history are represented in academia around the world. He has taught at a number of universities, such as Columbia University, and is presently the Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda. Zohran's mother, Mira Nair, is a name familiar to cinephiles worldwide. The Indian-American director is best known for films like Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, and Queen of Katwe. After living in Kampala and Cape Town, the Mamdani-Nair household moved to New York City when Zohran was seven years old. It was in NYC that he attended the Bank Street School and later the Bronx High School of Science before going on to study Africana Studies at Bowdoin College. ALSO READ| Zohran Mamdani takes lead in NYC democratic mayoral primary as Cuomo concedes, final result on July 1 Notably, Zohran got elected into the State Assembly in 2021 to represent part of Queens. The rapper turned politician secured endorsement from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, and many others, as he moved into the Mayoral Election.
Time Magazine
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Mamdani Topples Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Primary
Zohran Mamdani is set to become the Democratic candidate in New York City's upcoming mayoral election, after delivering a shocking upset against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who long led polls in the primary race but conceded Tuesday night before the votes were even finished being counted as it became clear that Mamdani possessed a commanding and insurmountable lead. 'Tonight was not our night,' Cuomo told his supporters, adding of Mamdani: 'Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won.' It's unclear if Cuomo will run as an independent in the November election. Mamdani, 33, is a Democratic Socialist state assemblymember. He emerged victorious from the contentious primary after running a largely grassroots campaign focused on reducing the cost of living for New Yorkers. The Uganda-born politician has touted plans including the launch of city-owned grocery stories, free buses, and free childcare for city residents up to age 5. The Democratic candidate for New York City's mayor will likely be the city's next leader, as Democrats have won the last three mayoral elections. Mamdani's success comes in part due to endorsements by popular progressive candidates, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Local groups including immigrant rights nonprofit Make The Road Action New York, and Teamsters Local 804 have also supported Mamdani. His campaign attracted thousands of individual donors and volunteers. The state assemblymember surged in the polls in recent weeks and was shown advancing ahead of Cuomo, who served as governor for a decade, in a major independent polling simulation survey by Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill published a day before the election. Polling for the survey took in mind the ranked-choice voting system used by voters. Cuomo's win would have marked his comeback to civil leadership after his 2021 resignation as governor following a series of sexual harassment allegations made by more than a dozen women. An investigation into Cuomo by the New York Attorney General's Office found that he had sexually harassed a number of employees and made a 'hostile work environment for women.' Cuomo has denied the most serious accusations levied against him, but has acknowledged that he 'acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable.' Mamdani will face current New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is running in the race as an independent, as well as Republican Curtis Sliwa and another independent campaign by Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor, in November's election. Here's what to know. How does ranked choice voting work? New York City uses a ranked-choice voting process to elect the mayor, comptroller, borough president, and other elected officials. Under this system, voters can rank their top five candidates for a position. Voters also have the option to vote for one candidate, or rank fewer than five, if they so choose. Candidates who receive more than 50% of first-choice votes win the election. But if there is no candidate that receives a majority of the first-choice votes, then votes are tallied in rounds. The candidate with the least amount of votes in the prior round is eliminated, and voters who ranked that candidate at the top of their remaining choices will instead have their vote count towards their next preferred choice. That process continues until it comes down to two candidates, at which point the person with the most votes will win. What happens next? Mamdani's win is just the start of the general election. Tuesday's vote was merely a primary to determine who will be representing the Democratic Party. The winner must now compete against Sliwa, the sole Republican candidate running in the race, as well as the independent candidates. Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, a group that encourages civilian patrol of the streets, has identified himself as an anti-Trump Republican who wants greater safety in the city. Sliwa lost to Adams, whose term officially ends on Jan. 1, during the last election in 2021. The next mayor will be chosen on Nov. 4. Voters will once again be able to rank multiple candidates in the general election. What about Eric Adams? Adams, who campaigned and won as a Democrat in 2021, was notably absent from Tuesday's ballot, though he is still running for reelection. Adams's tenure in office has been clouded in scandal after he was charged with bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and taking campaign contributions from foreign nationals in his previous mayoral campaign. The federal indictment, which was unsealed last September, claims that Adams gave 'favorable treatment' to officials who gave money or other contributions to his campaign. Though he faced pressure to resign, the mayor did not heed calls to step down and has maintained his innocence. The Department of Justice, which levied the charges against Adams, dropped their case against the mayor in April, saying that it would interfere with his ability to implement the Trump Administration's immigration policies. The judge that granted the dismissal called it 'disturbing.' 'Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,' the judge wrote, according to the Associated Press. That same month, Adams withdrew his candidacy for the Democratic primary, saying the legal battle had prevented him from effectively campaigning. 'I'm in the race to the end. I'm not running on the Democratic line. It's just not realistic to turn around my numbers and to run a good campaign [from] where we are right now,' Adams told Politico. Adams says he still aligns with the Democratic Party. How frequent are mayoral elections in NYC? Mayoral elections for New York City are held every four years. Mayors can serve up to two consecutive four-year terms. Term limits restrict candidates from running for a third term unless a different candidate has served at least one term in between the time the mayor 'last held such office,' per the New York City Charter.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Can an AOC-backed socialist upset Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayor's race?
Can an AOC-backed socialist upset Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayor's race? The same problem that drove New York's swing to the right in 2024 − unaffordability − is driving the farthest-left candidate to the top of the heap of Cuomo alternatives. Show Caption Hide Caption Judge drops NYC mayor corruption case at DOJ request The corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams was dismissed by a U.S. district judge with prejudice. When the votes are counted, if no candidate has a majority of first-place votes the instant runoff begins: In New York City, where Democrats outnumber Republicans six to one the Democratic primary is often the de facto election. Ironically, the same problem that drove the city's swing to the right in 2024 − unaffordability − is driving the farthest-left candidate to the top of the heap of Cuomo alternatives. New York progressives were shocked when President Donald Trump made inroads in many New York City neighborhoods in 2024, but New York state Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani was curious. The Uganda-born, 33-year-old member of the left-wing Democratic Socialists for America went out on the streets to interview Trump voters. There he found the same phenomenon that powered Trump's victory nationwide: frustration with the high cost of living, especially among working-class voters. But while post-pandemic prices hit hard everywhere, the issue is especially potent in New York, which is frequently ranked among the world's most expensive cities. That's primarily due to its astronomical housing costs. The city's median sale price in February 2025 was $853,000, compared to $438,000 nationwide. Now that Mamdani is a candidate for mayor in the June 24 Democratic primary, his campaign is focused on cutting the cost of living in New York, offering policies such as free buses, and a freeze on rents in the city's roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. That message has vaulted the state legislator − who was previously best known for being the son of "Monsoon Wedding" director Mira Nair − into contention for the Democratic nomination. The mayoral race is being dominated by a triumvirate of political misfits: a far-left Democratic Socialist, a scandal-plagued mayor who ditched his own party after cozying up to Trump, and a disgraced former governor attempting to stage a political comeback. According to a May 28 Emerson College poll, Mamdani is in second place at 23%, behind former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 35%. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is in third place, with 11%. Mamdani also has by far the most individual donors, followed by Lander. on June, Mamdani secured the coveted endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., New York City's most high-profile progressive. Polls also show widespread concern among New Yorkers about the cost of living: an April Siena College poll found 94% of them say affordability is a problem. Ironically, the same issue that drove the city's swing to Trump in 2024 − unaffordability − is driving the farthest-left candidate to the top of the heap of Cuomo alternatives. 'I think New Yorkers are hungry for a different kind of politics," Mamdani told USA TODAY. "They're hungry for a politics that puts working people first." Mayor Eric Adams unlikely to win reelection In New York City, where Democrats outnumber Republicans six to one, the Democratic primary is often the de facto election. But this year features an unusual twist: New York City Mayor Eric Adams has dropped out of the Democratic race to run as an independent. Adams' campaign was lagging badly due to his September 2024 federal criminal indictment on bribery, fraud and campaign finance charges. He has received zero endorsements and raised considerably less money than his main competitors in recent months. In the most recent poll on New Yorkers' perception of their mayor, from March, just 20% approved of Adams' performance and more than half wanted him to resign. The Justice Department alleged Adams − a retired police officer and former registered Republican, who won office as a moderate Democrat in 2021 − did favors for the Turkish government in exchange for illegal campaign funds and free international trips. The Adams administration also has been plagued by legal troubles. Former Police Commissioner Edward Caban's brother was accused of "shaking down" a bar owner for a bribe to make fines disappear. The federal government is reportedly investigating the brother of two other top Adams administration officials, into his consulting clients getting contracts from city agencies his family members oversee. Adams himself gave his own brother a high-paying, high-level city job, which was blocked by the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board. A former Adams senior adviser is also facing multiple sexual harassment lawsuits, and another adviser was indicted on state bribery charges. The mayor alleged without evidence that his indictment was retribution for his criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the influx of migrants to New York City, which has strained local government resources. Adams subsequently warmed to Trump, abandoned his prior criticisms, and expressed a desire to work together. He even flew to Mar-a-Lago to meet with the then-president elect. In early February, the Justice Department dropped the charges against Adams on the grounds that the case would distract him from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement in New York City, a move that led a raft of prosecutors to resign in protest. On February 14, Adams appeared on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" next to Tom Homan, the White House 'border czar,' to emphasize their intention to cooperate on immigration enforcement. "If he doesn't come through, I'll be back in New York City, and we won't be sitting on a couch,' Homan said. 'I'll be in his office, up his butt saying where the hell is the agreement we came to?' Adams has drawn criticism in response from some New Yorkers who believe he and Trump have struck a corrupt bargain. "He is choosing to sell out the people of New York for his own freedom," said Council Member Carmen de la Rosa at a rally the same day as Adams' Fox appearance. In contrast, when Homan went to meet with Republican lawmakers at the state Capitol in Albany, Mamdani shouted at him, "do you believe in the First Amendment?", to protest of the Trump administration's push to deport university student protesters for pro-Palestinian advocacy. Adams' campaign declined to comment. Is Cuomo vulnerable? The Cuomos are New York's closest comparison to the Kennedys of Massachusetts. (In fact, Andrew Cuomo's ex-wife Kerry Kennedy is the daughter for former Sen. Ted Kennedy and the niece former President John F. Kennedy.) Andrew Cuomo was elected governor three times, as was his father Mario, so he enters the race with name recognition and financial backing from players such as the city's real estate industry. A Super PAC supporting him − bankrolled with big donations by wealthy Trump backers such as hedge fund manager Bill Ackman ($250,000) and real estate executive Steven Roth ($200,000) − has raised more than $7 million since March. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when New York was hit hardest, Cuomo was lionized for his reassuring daily press conferences, which so soothed the public that he became a sex symbol to self-described 'cuomosexuals.' The Cuomo campaign's first TV commercial focuses on that time period, lauding him for "leadership" and "provid(ing) hope." The ad goes on to say "New Yorkers face a city unaffordable, and streets that don't feel safe." But rather than proposing specific solutions, it concludes that "in a crisis, you want someone who's delivered for us before." Much like his campaign ads, some Cuomo supporters talk more about how they took comfort in his persona than any current policy proposals. 'I'm really focused on Cuomo," Betty Vega, a retired music promoter in Brooklyn, told USA TODAY. "Because of his strength and because of my memory of all his press conferences every single day, related to COVID." Cuomo has followed a cautious frontrunner's playbook, avoiding press conferences and candidate forums in which he would engage directly with his opponents. The first mayoral debate, on June 4, demonstrated his reasons, as the ex-governor took incoming fire for his gubernatorial record from a stage full of opponents. New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams − who is not related to the mayor − blasted Cuomo for cutting Medicaid and childcare spending as governor and accused him of failing to make COVID-19 vaccines and personal protective equipment available in Black and Latino communities. Former state Assembly Member Michael Blake turned a discussion of public safety towards the sexual harassment allegations. 'The people who don't feel safe are young women, mothers and grandmothers around Andrew Cuomo,' he said. But Cuomo also faces challenges. He left the city for suburban Westchester decades ago, and just recently returned in advance of his campaign, drawing charges of carpet-bagging. And he resigned as governor in August 2021 after state Attorney General Letitia James found that Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo denied the most serious allegations, but admitted to offending women with jokes and unwelcome touching. He also has drawn scrutiny from James and Congress for forcing nursing homes to accept senior citizens recovering from COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic, a policy that may have caused the virus to spread more rapidly among the homes' elderly residents. James alleged in a 2021 report that Cuomo's administration undercounted nursing home Covid-19 deaths by as much as 50%. The Justice Department recently launched an investigation into the matter, drawing accusations of "lawfare and election interference" from Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi. (Azzopardi did not respond to requests for an interview for this article.) Cuomo endured other ethical imbroglios as well, such as a report from the state Assembly that found he forced government aides to work on a book about his experience during COVID-19, for which he had received a $5.2 million advance. The hits on Cuomo keep coming: the New York City Campaign Finance Board just fined Cuomo $675,000 penalty for improperly coordinating with the super PAC backing him. New York politics experts say Cuomo and Adams are vying for the same voters − older, moderate, often blue-collar − who are more inclined to stick with established names. Adams has taken to calling Cuomo a copycat. When Cuomo recently followed the mayor's lead in calling for making it easier to involuntarily hospitalize people with severe mental illness, a spokesperson for Adams said that 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." "For Cuomo to win, he'd have to get votes from Eric Adams, and he is likely benefiting from Eric Adams' misfortunes," Basil Smikle, a New York City-based political consultant said. Lander has tried to seize on the incumbent's and the frontrunner's troubles by arguing New York City needs steady scandal-free leadership. "What New Yorkers want across ideology right now − progressives, liberals, moderates: they want honest, effective, proven leadership back at City Hall, someone they can trust to focus on their problems and not on the mayor's personal problems, which they've seen way too much of for both Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo," Lander said. An unusual election: ranked-choice voting Even in the nation's largest and most self-absorbed city, it can be hard for mayoral candidates to get attention − especially when a controversial New York native is loudly occupying the White House. As if that weren't enough, Adams' vulnerability lured a slew of contenders into the race. Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Adrienne Adams ranked fourth and fifth in the Emerson poll and also are in the top five fundraisers. State Sen. Zelnor Myrie, Blake and hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson are also running. The good news for all the candidates not named Cuomo is that New York City primaries now involve ranked-choice − also known as instant-runoff − voting. Since 2021, voters have been able to rank up to five candidates on their ballot in primaries and special elections. When the votes are counted, if no candidate has a majority of first-place votes the instant runoff begins: In each round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes redistributed based on their supporters' lower-ranked preferences. That process goes on until there are only two candidates left and the one with more votes wins. Caitlin Cahill plans to rank Lander and Mamdani in the first two places on her ballot, although she is undecided about the order. The Brooklyn public school teacher has hosted fundraisers for both candidates in her apartment. "I feel like I would rank them both first," if she could, Cahill said. But she's currently leaning towards ranking Mamdani first because of his outspokenness, as demonstrated by his confrontation with Homan. "He's giving voice to feelings that many of us are experiencing," she said. Lander − who is giving affordability and public safety co-equal billing as his top issues − argues he is the best positioned to beat Cuomo because he "is building a broad coalition." Earlier in the race, some unions and progressive advocacy organizations such as United Auto Workers Region 9A and the Working Families Party promoted what they called the "DREAM" approach, an acronym for 'Don't Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor.' Now that Adams has dropped out of the Democratic primary, some have rebranded "DREAM" to stand for "Don't Rank Evil Andrew (Cuomo) for Mayor." Lander, Mamdani and some of the other more progressive candidates have suggested they are open to such a strategy and even potential cross-endorsements. "I think it's important to use ranked-choice strategically," Lander said. In what it described as a bid to stop Cuomo, on May 30 the Working Families Party − the most influential progressive advocacy organization in New York elections − endorsed Mamdani first, Lander second, Adrienne Adams third and the state Sens. Myrie fourth. After state Sen. Jessica Ramos dropped out and endorsed Cuomo on June 6, the WFP removed Ramos from its fifth spot and added Blake, citing his strong performance attacking Cuomo in the debate. Ocasio-Cortez, arguing Cuomo 'belongs to the hedge funds," backed a similar slate, with Adrienne Adams, Lander, Stringer and Myrie filling out her ballot below Mamdani. "Before ranked-choice voting, given the polling it would be difficult for any of Cuomo's opponents to catch him at this point, with just under a month to go to the primary," said Smikle, a former executive director of the New York state Democratic Party. "In this ranked choice environment, I do feel there are scenarios in which Cuomo is beatable," Smikle added.
