Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, made notable comments following his defeat. Speaking to MSNBC, Cuomo admitted that he had not anticipated voters’ reactions to Israel influencing the election outcome. “I didn’t see how this would motivate people in a mayoral race,” Cuomo said. “I saw anti-Israel sentiment on the streets, but I didn’t expect it to affect voting behavior this much.”

Youth Energy and Housing Crisis Played a Role

Cuomo also acknowledged that his loss was not only influenced by foreign policy, but also by the energy of 20-30-year-old voters and Zohran Mamdani’s focus on affordable housing. During the interview, Cuomo mispronounced his opponent’s name as “Mandani,” prompting the host to interject, “I think you should get his name right first,” correcting the former governor.

Mamdani’s Rise: New York’s First Muslim Mayoral Candidate

In the Democratic primary held on June 24, Muslim politician and Member of Congress Zohran Mamdani received 56% of the vote, defeating Cuomo by a 12-point margin. Cuomo subsequently announced that he would continue the race as an independent candidate.

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams had withdrawn from the Democratic primary amid corruption allegations. If elected in the November 4 general election, 33-year-old Mamdani would become New York’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. Recent polls show Mamdani leading his rivals, Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.