Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was in Brooklyn Saturday touting the support of faith leaders as early voting began. But mostly, he was there to tear down his opponent in the New York City mayor’s race, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

“He’s panicked,” Cuomo said. “He’s desperate.”

Cuomo spent almost the entirety of his remarks attacking Mamdani, the Queens Assembly member who on Friday made an impassioned speech about the Islamophobia he and other Muslim New Yorkers have experienced.

What You Need To Know

Andrew Cuomo has dismissed Zohran Mamdani’s claims the former governor’s attacks contribute to Islamophobia

Cuomo says a comment made during an interview by a radio host that Mamdani would cheer another 9/11 was offensive, but that he did not take it seriously

The Queens Assembly member who on Friday made an impassioned speech about the Islamophobia he and other Muslim New Yorkers have experienced.

Republican Curtis Sliwa cast his ballot on Day 1 of early voting, defying those calling on him to drop out

Cuomo dismissed it as an act.

“New Yorkers love the Muslim community,” he said. “He claims that he is the victim — the victim of attacks because he’s a Muslim. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is not a victim. He is the offender.”

Cuomo failed to push back during a radio interview Thursday when conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg said Mamdani would cheer another 9/11. Cuomo says the comment was offensive and in poor taste, but that he didn’t take it seriously.

“What do I care what a radio host says?” he said. “It has nothing to do with me.”

Mamdani, campaigning in Brooklyn, says his message on affordability is uniting the city.

Cuomo is “allergic to apologizing,” Mamdani said. “If New Yorkers wanted division and hate, bigotry, they can already find it in Donald Trump. They don’t need it in the next mayor of this city. And that’s why we’ll be turning the page on Andrew Cuomo and that very bigotry on November 4.”

Meanwhile, another candidate was seeking to make a statement on day one of early voting. Republican Curtis Sliwa cast his ballot at the American Museum of Natural History, defying those who call him a spoiler.

“Today, it should be the last time we hear that Curtis Sliwa should drop out,” he told reporters.

As for Cuomo’s controversial radio interview, Sliwa, a longtime radio host, said controversy comes with the territory.

“Andy, get your big boy pants on,” he said of Cuomo. “When you go on a talk radio program and you say something, own it. Own it.”