New York City voters are staring at a grim reality this fall. The choices in the mayoral race are so flawed that the best description of the ballot might be a political “crap sandwich.” On one side stands Andrew Cuomo, a disgraced former governor clawing his way back into relevance. On the other hand is Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, promising an economic fantasy that will sink the city further.
Cuomo’s Tired Return
Cuomo’s run as an independent is a naked power play, not a vision for the city. After losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, he bolted to create his own “Fight and Deliver” party. But what he’s really fighting for is his own political survival. New Yorkers remember the scandals that forced him out of the governor’s mansion: sexual harassment allegations, a nursing home cover-up, and years of strong-arming critics. The guy demonstrably killed elderly people with bad COVID policies, but he could be the next NYC mayor.
Cuomo’s record on infrastructure is just as troubling. He meddled in the MTA for years, pushing vanity projects while leaving the subway system underfunded and unreliable. Now he wants voters to believe he can fix New York’s problems. The truth is, his name is toxic, and his comeback bid reeks of desperation. Voters aren’t thrilled with his reappearance on the political scene.
Mamdani’s Crazy Experiment
Then there’s Mamdani, the far-left communist assemblyman whose ideas sound hilarious on paper and collapse under basic scrutiny. He wants to freeze rents, tax the wealthy into submission, and hand out free bus service. All free stuff, all the time. That may win applause from, well, morons, but it’s a recipe for driving out investment, killing jobs, and turning New York into another fiscal disaster. That’s not to mention the decrease in public safety that would result from further shrinking the NYPD.
The polls show Mamdani leading, but that says more about his opponents’ weakness than it does about his appeal. His platform is energizing activists, but the city’s working class will pay the price when his promises immediately fail.
No Real Answers
Mayor Eric Adams has refused calls to drop out, and Curtis Sliwa is still hanging on, but neither has a clear path. Cuomo has openly tried to pressure both candidates to step aside so he can consolidate votes, a move that only highlights his cynicism. Meanwhile, Mamdani benefits from the fractured field. Even President Trump is getting involved, according to reports.
The bottom line is this: New York doesn’t have a good choice. Voters are stuck picking between a scandal-ridden liar and an untested socialist.
Things May Have to Get Worse
It may be that the city has to hit rock bottom before it can rebuild. The crime, the cost of living, the failing infrastructure—none of these issues will be solved by Mamdani’s fantasies, but Cuomo is so hated that he may end up losing. New Yorkers may be left to endure more decline before things get better, thanks to Cuomo’s ego.
For now, the race is shaping up as proof of how badly the city’s political establishment has failed. Voters deserve better, not a lineup of deeply flawed candidates. But this November, that’s all they’re getting, and they’re partly to blame for sitting it out during the primaries.