Cuomo tears into socialist Zohran Mamdani over rent control hypocrisy

Dubbing it a “two man race,” former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tore into wealthy socialist mayoral rival, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who “bragged” about his affordable housing.

Barring an upset for the ages from Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa (R), New York City’s mayoral race appeared to conservatives to be every bit a self-inflicted race to ruin for Gothamites. As polling supported the disgraced former governor’s position on a Democratic head-to-head, attacks from Mamdani claiming ties to President Donald Trump found Cuomo countering with a dismantling of the extremist leftist bona fides.

“Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, assemblyman @ZohranKMamdani are occupying her rent controlled apartment,” the governor posted to X Friday afternoon.

Sharing a clip of Mamdani revealing how much he paid in rent at $2,300 a month, Cuomo highlighted that the assemblyman’s wealth included his upbringing in and ongoing connection to Uganda, a nation hostile to alphabet activism.

“You grew up rich and married an even wealthier woman. You’ve had weddings on 3 continents. You own property in LGTBQIA+ murderous Uganda,” read the post. “You make $142,000 a year plus stipends, and your wife works too, meaning you together likely make well over $200,000. No matter which way you cut it: Zohran Mamdani is a rich person. You are actually very rich.”

Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, assemblyman @ZohranKMamdani are occupying her rent controlled apartment.

You grew up rich and married an even wealthier woman. You’ve had weddings on 3 continents.… https://t.co/kWXUI0MxdA pic.twitter.com/mvYZfCO8Af

— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) August 8, 2025

“Yet you and your wife pay $2,300 a month, as you have bragged, for a nice apartment in Astoria. That should be housing for someone who needs it. We are in the middle of a historic affordability crisis. Millions of low income New Yorkers need this apartment and an apartment like it. Yet your apartment remains rented to rich people who don’t need it,” continued Cuomo before issuing a challenge to Mamdani to practice what he preached and live out his socialism. “Today, I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who need it. Leaders must show moral clarity. Time to move out.”

The jab at the winner of the Democratic Party primary came as Mamdani maintained a double-digit lead in the polling average for the general election, according to Race to the White House. At more than 38%, Mamdani held a roughly 14% advantage over Cuomo with Sliwa sitting in third at 14.8% and incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for reelection as an independent,  a distant fourth at 10.9%.

It also came as Mamdani had alleged a tie between Cuomo and the president, claiming, “It is Donald Trump himself who has been directly conspiring with candidates who have decided to give up the people that they are supposed to protect in lieu of securing power through the assistance of that same administration in Washington, D.C.”

While Cuomo’s campaign had denied the claims, the governor also made a point of framing the current state of the race by asserting, “In case you forgot, I’m Andrew Cuomo, son of Mario, grandson of Andrea. Welcome to the heavyweight bout, @ZohranKMamdani … This is a two man race. You look tired already. It’s just the second round.”

In case you forgot, I’m Andrew Cuomo, son of Mario, grandson of Andrea.

Welcome to the heavyweight bout, @ZohranKMamdani

This is a two man race. You look tired already. It’s just the second round.

— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) August 8, 2025

The infighting on the left saw some supporting Cuomo’s attacks, seemingly taking a lesser of two evils view of the race to Gracie Mansion, while others commented on the whole picture. This included DataRepublican, who chose to nod to the governor’s COVID nursing home policy when she said, “How fitting that the moral dilemma of 2025 is choosing between a Marxist and a mass murderer.”

How fitting that the moral dilemma of 2025 is choosing between a Marxist and a mass murderer.

— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) August 8, 2025

I came to the comments, expecting you to be getting cooked with some other version of the story. Sounds like you may have actually uncovered something here. Congratulations.

— Matt (@MCumley) August 8, 2025

Hang on, Andrew

Are you really asking a socialist to personally behave as he says he believes?

Good luck

— Jon Munce (@jonmunce) August 8, 2025

Never thought I’d be rooting for @andrewcuomo but the alternative is disastrous. Looking at the big picture here. Best of luck to you. I’ll be praying for NYC.

— Ken Adams (@Quicker10u) August 9, 2025

Oh good LORD. ‍
NYC, for the love of everything HOLY, there’s only ONE CHOICE to get the city back to being awesome @CurtisSliwa

— Humarock (@Humarock501) August 9, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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