Meet The Cuban-Born Biotech Entrepreneur Looking To Be The Anti-Mamdani In NYC Mayoral Race

A Cuban-born biotech entrepreneur has officially entered the New York City (NYC) mayoral race, positioning himself as the anti-Zohran Mamdani candidate.

Joseph Hernandez decided to enter the race in June as an Independent because of how much he despised the socialist platform that Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is running on. (RELATED: LARRY PROVOST: NYC Mayoral Election Echoes 1965 And 1969 Races)

I’m Joseph Hernandez, and I’m running for Mayor of New York City— not as a politician, but as a citizen who’s had enough. I’ll be on the ballot running as an Independent on November 4th.

Let’s take back New York. Together.#hernandezfornyc #fortheloveofthecity pic.twitter.com/dooPdIhSgA

— Joseph Hernandez (@hernandezfornyc) June 16, 2025

“I was raised in a socialist communist society, so I am the antithesis of Zohran Mamdani’s ideology,” Hernandez told the New York post in an interview.

Cuban-born biotech honcho enters NYC mayoral race seeking to upset Mamdani: ‘I hate socialism’ https://t.co/3imEIrcR5r pic.twitter.com/jdGkwaHRr7

— New York Post (@nypost) August 16, 2025

“In fact, he’s a motivator for me to fight in this race. I despise socialism. I am a believer in the American dream. I’m a believer in capitalism. It’s not perfect, but it’s lifted more people out of poverty than any other ideology,” he went on to say.

Joseph and his family fled Fidel Castro’s communist rule in Cuba when he was seven years old because his father was a “political prisoner,” according to his campaign website. Since then, he’s gone on to found over a dozen healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, and currently serves as the founder and senior managing partner of Blue Water Venture Partners LLC.

Hernandez told the outlet that he’s running because he loves NYC and that he would be the best man for the job because of his background in business.

“I doing this because I love the city and want to make it better,” he told the outlet. “I don’t have baggage like [many of the other candidates]. I’m a businessman; I’m logical; I know technology; and know how to structure budgets.”

Hernandez vowed to provide real solutions for the challenges of everyday New Yorkers, according to his campaign website.

His top priorities include hiring 10,000 new police officers, converting underused office buildings into residential housing and using artificial intelligence (AI) to clean streets, improve traffic, and digitize public services. 

Hernandez told the outlet that he’s raised over $300,000 since launching his campaign and has secured an endorsement from the Bodega and Small Business Group, the outlet added.

Hernandez has a lot of ground to make as up as a Sienna poll on Aug. 12 showed Mamdani leading with 44% favorability, followed by former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 25%, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa with 12% and Independent Mayor Eric Adams with 7%. The remaining 12% support other candidates or are undecided.