Sat Oct 25 03:01:09 UTC 2025: ## NYC Mayoral Frontrunner Mamdani Condemns Islamophobia as Early Voting Nears

Bronx, NY – New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani delivered a passionate speech on Friday, denouncing what he called “racist, baseless attacks” fueled by Islamophobia from his opponents in the lead-up to the election. Speaking outside a Bronx mosque just a day before early voting begins, Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and current frontrunner, accused his rivals of exploiting anti-Muslim sentiment.

Mamdani specifically called out former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo for agreeing with a radio host’s suggestion that Mamdani “would be cheering” if another 9/11 attack occurred. He also criticized Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa for falsely claiming Mamdani supported “global jihad” during a debate and condemned Super PAC advertisements implying he was a terrorist.

“To be Muslim in New York is to expect indignity,” Mamdani stated, emphasizing the impact of Islamophobia on the nearly one million Muslims living in the city.

The speech followed criticism from Muslim advocacy group CAIR Action, whose executive director Basim Elkarra described Cuomo’s radio appearance as “despicable, dangerous, and disqualifying.”

Despite facing such attacks, Mamdani’s campaign has garnered support from prominent Democrats, including endorsements from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senator Bernie Sanders. On Friday, he also received a significant endorsement from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

A recent AARP/Gotham Polling and Analytics poll positions Mamdani ahead of his opponents, with 43.2 percent of voter support, followed by Cuomo at 28.9 percent and Sliwa at 19.4 percent. The poll also highlighted cost of living, public safety, and housing affordability as key concerns for voters.

While current NYC Mayor Eric Adams, facing corruption allegations, endorsed Cuomo after withdrawing from the race, the focus remains on Mamdani’s response to the Islamophobic attacks and his commitment to addressing the core issues facing New York City voters as early voting commences. The general election is scheduled for November 4th.

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