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How the NYC mayor's race turned into a political ‘Freaky Friday’

By

Elizabeth Kim

Published Aug 14, 2025

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Zohran Mamdani delivers a speech.

 

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

By

Elizabeth Kim

Published Aug 14, 2025

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This column originally appeared in The Politics Brief, our weekly newsletter on the people, power and policies that shape New Yorkers' lives.

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There has been no honeymoon for Zohran Mamdani since the front-runner in New York City's mayoral race returned to the campaign trail after his wedding celebration in Uganda last month.

Even before his return flight landed at JFK Airport, Mamdani faced a weeklong interrogation of his public safety policies following a mass shooting. Mamdani’s most viable challenger, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, followed that with a provocative debate over whether the assemblymember from Queens should be allowed to live in his $2,300-a-month rent-stabilized apartment.

Has the script flipped for the general election?

Cuomo, who ran a disastrous Rose Garden strategy in the Democratic primary, now looks like the aggressive underdog. Mamdani, meanwhile, has spent the last several weeks fending off rivals’ attacks on his policies and personal life.

“It feels like Freaky Friday,” said Trip Yang, Democratic strategist, alluding to the body-swapping hit movie that just got a sequel. “In the primary, Cuomo was this juggernaut. Zohran was this viral sensation.”

“The roles are reversed,” he added.

Sal Albanese, a former city councilmember and mayoral candidate who supports Mamdani, agreed.

“The campaign is playing defense,” he said. “I don’t think that’s good going into the fall.”

The shift comes as Mamdani adapts to the role of front-runner while seeking the support of establishment Democrats and business leaders. That effort has coincided with his hiring of several veteran political insiders.

For most of the primary, the 33-year-old democratic socialist ran as a long-shot candidate who seemed to have nothing to lose. On Tuesday, a Siena College poll showed him leading a five-person field with 44% support from registered voters.

Cuomo, who is running as an independent, is in second place with 25%. The 67-year-old former governor has recast himself on social media as a snarky and at times unhinged mayoral candidate.

“In case you forgot, I’m Andrew Cuomo, son of Mario, grandson of Andrea,” Cuomo said on X on Friday, in a kind of medieval proclamation about his royal lineage.“Welcome to the heavyweight bout @ZohranKMamdani This is a two man race. You look tired already. It’s just the second round.”

Mamdani has defended changes to his campaign. “I'm not looking to just be the mayor for the more than 500,000 New Yorkers who voted for me in the primary,” he said during a press conference in Brooklyn on Tuesday. “I'm looking to be the mayor for New Yorkers who voted for Andrew Cuomo, for New Yorkers who didn't vote at all.”

Mamdani described his new campaign team as one that would “ensure that we can continue to grow our message and our presence across the entirety of the city.”

As Cuomo nips at his heels, Mamdani has launched a five-borough tour highlighting the effects of President Donald Trump’s policies. Also, on Tuesday afternoon, Mamdani released an attack ad, demanding Cuomo release the list of clients he advised as a consultant after resigning from office.

Cuomo, seemingly unruffled, responded with a meme.

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Elizabeth Kim

Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]

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