This piece first ran as part of The Countdown, our daily newsletter rounding up all the developments in the New York City mayor’s race. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. There are 12 days to the election.
Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa teamed up against Zohran Mamdani several times during the final general election debate last night.
They accused him of being unready to combat antisemitism and too inexperienced to govern, and both jeered at him for dodging questions about housing measures that will be on the ballot.
Mamdani promised to be a mayor “who doesn’t just protect Jewish New Yorkers, but also celebrates and cherishes them.” He said that in addition to increasing funding for hate crime prevention programs and boosting synagogue security, he would implement a school curriculum that teaches students “about the beauty and breadth of the Jewish experience.” (Such a curriculum became available to schools this year.)
Cuomo retorted, “You’re the savior of the Jewish people? You won’t denounce ‘globalize the intifada,’ which means ‘kill Jews.’” (Mamdani declined to condemn the protest slogan during the primary, but since repeatedly said he would discourage the term and acknowledged that it incited fear among some Jews.)
Cuomo also referenced an open letter released Wednesday from rabbis across the country, who said that a Mamdani victory would threaten “the safety and dignity of Jews in every city.” Over 800 rabbis have now signed the letter.
Sliwa also butted in to say that his sons were among the Jewish New Yorkers unconvinced by Mamdani’s promise to fight antisemitism. “Let me speak on behalf of my two sons,” said Sliwa. “When they’ve heard some of the statements you’ve made, like in support of global jihad — and I hear some people out there saying that ‘Jews, their time is due,’ which means the same thing — they’re frightened, they’re scared.”
Mamdani clarified that he had “never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad.” He said the incorrect attribution of that stance to him was related to “the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election.”
It’s official: Mamdani says he wants to keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her role if he is elected.
Tisch, a billionaire heiress from a prominent Jewish family, has won praise from the rank and file as well as politicians of both parties, though some progressives have called to remove her.
The move signals Mamdani’s continued push to broaden his support among moderates, business leaders and other New Yorkers who are skeptical about his past stances against the police. It could also reassure some Jewish voters of their safety under his mayoralty.
Tisch’s allies previously indicated that she would like to remain commissioner regardless of the election’s outcome, according to The New York Times. Her spokesperson said, “It is not appropriate for the police commissioner to be directly involved or to seem to be involved in electoral politics.”
As Mamdani’s police commissioner, Tisch may be confronted with his pledge to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the Israeli leader comes to New York City. Tisch has not commented on the plan, and Mamdani has not answered whether he thinks she would allow it.
Tisch’s family members have donated $950,000 to an anti-Mamdani PAC in the general election, according to records shared by Politico’s Jeff Coltin.