Zohran Mamdani is the opposite of what every New Yorker should want in their mayor. Mamdani is a hypocrite with deeply flawed policy talking points who represents a world in which words misalign with actions.
Campaign and Person Hypocrisy
Mamdani is a self-declared democratic socialist, and is slated to become the next mayor of the most important city in the world.
In general a socialist is someone who should believe in sharing, should avoid excessive displays of wealth, and should strive for working-class simplicity.
Can anybody explain to me why a self-declared socialist would have a millionaire wedding in a foreign country during his campaign for mayor? Mamdani being born in Uganda was already controversial, but marrying there during a campaign where he claims to love New York is simply politically unwise. Uganda is a human rights and humanitarian disaster, so for Mamdani to marry there in an exclusive millionaire compound, not only goes against his so-called democratic socialist values, but also against the tolerance that Mamdani frequently claims to support. On top of this, new intelligence showing that Mamdani’s mayoral campaign received thousands of dollars in foreign cash questions the integrity of his already hypocritical campaign.
Mamdani’s push for LGBTQ and other minority rights stands in stark contrast to his refusal to condemn saying “globalize the intifada.”
I am not against love, I am against the idea of someone who says he is for the people refusing to have a respectable event in the city that he claims to love. While 20 special forces units guarded the Mamdani wedding in Uganda, evil came to the heart of New York city and killed four people, including a Cornell graduate. Mamdani’s reaction, in particular to Officer Didarul Islam was very respectful and commendable, but the actions of this candidate act in misalignment with his alleged principles and such carelessness can open the gateway for future evil without necessarily directly birthing it.
If Mamdani can afford huge travel expenses and a highly bourgeois wedding during an already expensive campaign, then what justifies Mamdani’s rent stabilized apartment? I know so many New Yorkers that had to leave Astoria because of the rent prices, and the one who uses the system doesn't even need it. It drives me crazy as someone from central Queens. The amalgamation of intersectional issues that come just from Mamdani’s wedding should be enough to make him lose supporters, but it isn't.
Flawed Policy Plans
Aside from hypocrisy, the policies that Mamdani supports are either too vague or superficial. Mamdani’s promises to freeze won’t prevent eviction and the updated market prices; After San Francisco froze the rent, there was an eviction crisis. Talking points like “freeze the rent” just trick the poor into band-aid solutions that won’t actually help.
Mamdani’s plans for free buses don’t do anything to combat the MTA mafia, which will raise the subway fare to $3 starting next year no matter what; the buses are already crowded as they are, and it’s not like these proposals are going to add any additional revenue for additional buses.
As the child of a Soviet immigrant, Mamdani’s proposal of city run grocery stories is definitely a big time trigger; it ignores the family owned grocers and delis that already exist without providing long term food insecurity solutions.
Mamdani’s party comrades, the Democratic Socialists of America, openly call for constraining, diminishing and abolishing the “carceral forces of the state” including both prisons and police. Mamdani has distanced himself from the DSA and many of his previous beliefs, but refuses to publicly state that he won’t commit to abolishing or defunding. Mamdani is suddenly so respectful to the NYPD after calling them racist, anti-queer, a major threat and wicked a short time ago; changing opinions is good, but this is more reflective of ongoing inconsistency rather than gradual belief adjustment. With public safety being one of the biggest issues in New York, the lack of clarity coupled with inconsistency is a major red flag.
The Greater Truth
Mamdani is emblematic of a greater problem in the United States. Analyzing Mamdani through a partisan lens results in a victory for nobody; either way the spectrum inevitably flips from one side to the other.
What makes Mamdani worthy of calling out is the extent to which someone so insincere and someone who is the walking opposite of his own policies can capture the heart of so many New Yorkers.
Especially concerning and relevant is Mamdani’s unstoppable popularity among the youth. The beliefs of the next generation of American society will shape the world. If a Cornellian supports Mamdani, the focus should not be on a student voting but rather the implications for the direction of our country.
Just because one fails to resonate with other candidates, does not mean they shouldn't be able to call out the frontrunner.
Attacking Mamdani supporters is futile and will only lead to more division in an already divided country. I place the blame on the New Yorkers who are silent, or altogether apolitical. As the strongest opponent against Mamdani, I boldly announce that I would turn into his strongest defender if his policies work; but my personal familial knowledge about Soviet policy, the other half of my DNA stressing for Black people who are exploited during election cycles, and my distrust of short-term hypocrisy leaves me with serious doubts about a potential Mamdani mayoral term.
Leo Glasgow '26 is an Opinion Columnist and a student in the College of Arts & Sciences. The Government and China & Asia-Pacific Studies double major writes his truth about domestic and international policy as well as problems within the soul of our nation and the world. He can be reached at lglasgow@cornellsun.com
