In addition, Mamdani faces questions about his lack of executive experience. Critics point out that he has never managed a complex entity and that his proposals ignore the budgetary and administrative limits of municipal government.
The former Democratic President of the United States announced that, despite a recent phone call, he will not support the Muslim socialist
In addition, Mamdani faces questions about his lack of executive experience. Critics point out that he has never managed a complex entity and that his proposals ignore the budgetary and administrative limits of municipal government.
Another focus of controversy has been Mamdani's positions on Israel and Palestine. The candidate has been accused of being ambiguous regarding slogans such as "globalize the intifada" and of refusing to condemn violent attacks, which has caused discomfort in broad sectors of the Jewish community. Various organizations accuse him of promoting polarizing rhetoric and dividing the Democratic electorate.
Added to this is a financing scandal: recent reports indicate that his campaign has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from addresses outside the United States, which violates campaign finance laws. Mamdani has denied any wrongdoing, but the episode fuels doubts about the transparency of his movement.
The candidacy of the jihadist socialist has exposed the internal fracture of the Democratic Party between its progressive wing, led by far-left figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the more moderate sectors. Meanwhile, the latter fear that his anti-capitalist rhetoric will alienate independent voters, the progressive base insists that Mamdani represents "the moral renewal" of the party.
Former President Obama chose to keep his distance so as not to compromise other Democratic candidates in key states ahead of the 2026 legislative elections.
For now, Mamdani leads the polls with a 6.6-point advantage over Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, although the gap has narrowed drastically in recent days. Republican Curtis Sliwa remains in third place, with just over 24%.
Former President Barack Obama spoke by phone with New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, but decided not to offer him his public endorsement just three days before the election.
The call, revealed on Saturday, sparked a wave of political interpretations, especially because Obama has supported other municipal candidates in the past, such as Bill de Blasio in 2013 and Karen Bass in Los Angeles.
From Mamdani's camp, his adviser Patrick Gaspard, former United States ambassador to South Africa under Obama, stated that the lack of a formal endorsement "is nothing unusual," arguing that the former president "doesn't intervene in local elections."
However, the record contradicts that version: Obama has issued endorsements in several municipal races across the country. For analysts, his silence reflects a deliberate distance from the young socialist candidate's agenda.
At 33 years old, Mamdani represents the most progressive wing of the Democratic Party. His campaign is based on proposals such as free public transportation, municipal grocery stores, and tax increases on corporations and large fortunes to fund social programs. He has also advocated for ideas such as a rent freeze and a significant expansion of public spending.
However, Democratic economists and strategists warn that his economic program is unfeasible in a city already affected by deficits and high costs. "Giving everything away for free is not realistic. New York needs sustainable solutions, not impossible promises," stated a highly influential Democratic source.