Latest news with #Democraticprimary
Arab News
22-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
New York mayoral frontrunner Mamdani leaves business leaders divided on opposition strategy
NEW YORK: The business community in New York City is scrambling to figure out who to support in November's mayoral race, with many leaders saying either Andrew Cuomo or Mayor Eric Adams needs to drop out for the other to have a chance against surprise Democratic primary winner Zohran Mamdani. Following Cuomo's announcement that he would stay in the race as an independent after losing to Mamdani, New York-based CEOs have yet to coalesce behind either the former governor or incumbent Adams in their bid to defeat Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who won the primary in June. Several business leaders who would only speak under the condition of anonymity said they would support Cuomo, while others were backing Adams, a former police captain who was elected mayor as a Democrat in 2021 but this year decided to run as an independent, as less sure of the former governor's chances. Many leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach — though others believe that could be a bad move, keeping another candidate from gaining momentum. Mamdani won the June 24 primary with 56 percent of the vote, bolstered by young voters drawn to his social media presence and messaging focused on solving the city's affordability crisis. Polling suggests he would prevail over a fractured field of Cuomo, Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, but some polls suggest Cuomo would win a head-to-head matchup against Mamdani in heavily Democratic New York. Business owners are concerned that Mamdani's proposals, which include rent freezes, free city buses and city-owned grocery stores, would add to residents' tax burden and cause an exodus of capital. Mamdani says his plans, which also include free childcare, would be paid for by raising corporate taxes and imposing an additional 2 percent income tax on New Yorkers earning more than $1 million a year. 'I can only vote for one candidate in November, and that decision won't be made until closer to Election Day,' said Jared Epstein, president of real-estate owner and developer Aurora Capital Associates, in an email. 'Until then, like nearly every one of the 20,000 contacts in my phone, my position is simple: ABZ – 'Anyone But Zohran.'' Mamdani has raised about $820,000 since the primary through July 21, according to the city's campaign finance board. Few prominent business leaders have publicly come out in support of Mamdani, who has received endorsements from unions that previously backed Cuomo. In recent days, Mamdani met with executives in a meeting organized by the nonprofit Partnership for New York City. 'He did a pretty good job of making the case that he was open to conversations, discussion and learning, and that he wanted to build a coalition that would represent all New Yorkers,' said Kathy Wylde, president and chief executive officer of the group. Cuomo has said he would drop out by September if he isn't the clear favorite and has urged others to do the same, though by state law his name would remain on the ballot. He has raised just $64,000 since June 10. Adams has raised roughly $1.5 million since June 10. Maria and Kenneth Fishel, who own luxury real estate company Renaissance Properties, hosted a fundraiser for Adams in Long Island's Hamptons over the 4th of July weekend. Adams has also received support on social media from hedge-fund managers Bill Ackman and Daniel Loeb. He has been endorsed by 13 police unions. Hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who ran in this year's Democratic mayoral primary, receiving just 0.8 percent of the vote, said in an email that once the election is one month away, 'it will hopefully be clear who's better positioned to beat Mamdani and ONLY THEN should the other guy drop.' Neither Cuomo nor Mamdani's campaigns responded to a request for comment. Todd Shapiro, spokesperson for Adams, said Adams made New York stronger after the pandemic and will continue to deliver results for the business community in New York. Sliwa, who is polling behind both Mamdani and Cuomo, said he is not planning on dropping out; Sliwa, as the Republican candidate in the 2021 mayoral general election won 27.8 percent of the vote.
Reuters
22-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
New York mayoral frontrunner Mamdani leaves business leaders divided on opposition strategy
NEW YORK, July 22 (Reuters) - The business community in New York City is scrambling to figure out who to support in November's mayoral race, with many leaders saying either Andrew Cuomo or Mayor Eric Adams needs to drop out for the other to have a chance against surprise Democratic primary winner Zohran Mamdani. Following Cuomo's announcement that he would stay in the race as an independent after losing to Mamdani, New York-based CEOs have yet to coalesce behind either the former governor or incumbent Adams in their bid to defeat Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who won the primary in June. Several business leaders who would only speak under the condition of anonymity said they would support Cuomo, while others were backing Adams, a former police captain who was elected mayor as a Democrat in 2021 but this year decided to run as an independent, as less sure of the former governor's chances. Many leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach -- though others believe that could be a bad move, keeping another candidate from gaining momentum. Mamdani won the June 24 primary with 56% of the vote, bolstered by young voters drawn to his social media presence and messaging focused on solving the city's affordability crisis. Polling suggests he would prevail over a fractured field of Cuomo, Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, but some polls suggest Cuomo would win a head-to-head matchup against Mamdani in heavily Democratic New York. Business owners are concerned that Mamdani's proposals, which include rent freezes, free city buses and city-owned grocery stores, would add to residents' tax burden and cause an exodus of capital. Mamdani says his plans, which also include free childcare, would be paid for by raising corporate taxes and imposing an additional 2% income tax on New Yorkers earning more than $1 million a year. 'I can only vote for one candidate in November, and that decision won't be made until closer to Election Day,' said Jared Epstein, president of real-estate owner and developer Aurora Capital Associates, in an email. 'Until then, like nearly every one of the 20,000 contacts in my phone, my position is simple: ABZ – 'Anyone But Zohran.'" Mamdani has raised about $820,000 since the primary through July 21, according to the city's campaign finance board. Few prominent business leaders have publicly come out in support of Mamdani, who has received endorsements from unions that previously backed Cuomo. In recent days, Mamdani met with executives in a meeting organized by the nonprofit Partnership for New York City. "He did a pretty good job of making the case that he was open to conversations, discussion and learning, and that he wanted to build a coalition that would represent all New Yorkers," said Kathy Wylde, president and chief executive officer of the group. Cuomo has said he would drop out by September if he isn't the clear favorite and has urged others to do the same, though by state law his name would remain on the ballot. He has raised just $64,000 since June 10. Adams has raised roughly $1.5 million since June 10. Maria and Kenneth Fishel, who own luxury real estate company Renaissance Properties, hosted a fundraiser for Adams in Long Island's Hamptons over the 4th of July weekend. Adams has also received support on social media from hedge-fund managers Bill Ackman and Daniel Loeb. He has been endorsed by 13 police unions. Hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who ran in this year's Democratic mayoral primary, receiving just 0.8% of the vote, said in an email that once the election is one month away, "it will hopefully be clear who's better positioned to beat Mamdani and ONLY THEN should the other guy drop." Neither Cuomo nor Mamdani's campaigns responded to a request for comment. Todd Shapiro, spokesperson for Adams, said Adams made New York stronger after the pandemic and will continue to deliver results for the business community in New York. Sliwa, who is polling behind both Mamdani and Cuomo, said he is not planning on dropping out; Sliwa, as the Republican candidate in the 2021 mayoral general election won 27.8% of the vote.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
In NYC mayor's race, Zohran Mamdani meets with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as he seeks key endorsement
Zohran Mamdani held a high-profile meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as he seeks the Democratic leader's endorsement in the New York City mayor's race. Jeffries has yet to endorse anyone in the mayor's race after Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won the Democratic primary. Friday's meeting between Mamdani and Jeffries lasted about an hour. A Mamdani campaign spokesperson said they had a "candid and constructive" conversation, though there was still no endorsement afterwards. A spokesperson for Jeffries said they spoke about affordability and "a variety of other important issues, including public safety, rising antisemitism, gentrification and the importance of taking back the House in 2026." Mamdani and Jeffries agreed to meet again in a session that will include other members of the New York congressional delegation, as well as what was described as several high level community leaders. Mamdani did pick up one new endorsement Friday, from the health care workers union. He was previously endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed him in the primary. Mayor Eric Adams spent the day on the campaign trail in Chinatown. There were drums and dragon heads at the mayor's rally, where he urged members of the community to register to vote and support his independent campaign for another four-year term. Adams, whose words were translated to Chinese, highlighted his long-time support for the community, including when Officer Wenjian Liu and his partner were killed in Brooklyn in 2014. "I stood with you during COVID when others wanted to harm you. I stood with the family of Wenjian Liu, the first Asian police officer to lose his life. I stood with you when your seniors were going through difficult, harmful situations. I know you, you know me, and I want to be your mayor for four more years," he said. On Thursday, Adams held a rally where officials from 13 law enforcement unions endorsed him for Prussin contributed to this report.
Forbes
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Arizona Special Election: 25-Year-Old Deja Foxx Seeks To Go From TikTok Activist To Congress
A popular social media influencer is seen as a contender in Tuesday's Democratic primary for the special election to replace an Arizona congressman who died in office in March—which could make her one of the youngest members of Congress and the first of a new generation of content creators running for office to succeed. Deja Foxx, a 25-year-old political content creator, is a contender for an Arizona congressional ... More seat. Variety via Getty Images Deja Foxx, a 25-year-old political content creator who has over 395,000 followers on TikTok, is running for Democratic nomination in Arizona's 7th District after only turning the minimum age to serve in Congress in April. Fifty-four-year-old former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, the daughter of the late Rep. Raul Grijalva, was widely seen as the frontrunner in the race to replace her father, but recent internal polling from Foxx's campaign first published by Politico suggests the race is much closer—Foxx was only eight points behind Grijalva in polling done in May. Foxx was one of the youngest campaign staffers on Kamala Harris' first presidential campaign in 2020, and has continued to produce political content on liberal issues. Foxx was also chosen as one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in media for her work on social media campaigns for companies including Prada and Nike, as well as her political work. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., a 22-year veteran of Congress, died in March from complications from his cancer treatment, leaving a key seat open in a swing state Trump won with 52% of the vote in 2024. Arizona's 7th district is heavily Democratic leaning, according to the Cook Political Report, meaning whoever wins Tuesday's primary will be a heavy favorite in the Sept. 23 general election. Republicans only hold a slim majority in the House and are keen to pick up any available seats. Tangent Foxx is also one of the candidates endorsed by Leaders We Deserve, the political organization founded by former Democratic National Committee vice chair David Hogg with the intention of winning primary elections against sitting Democrats 'unwilling or unable to meet the moment and are asleep at the wheel.' Hogg, another Gen Z political activist who rose to prominence after surviving the Parkland shooting in 2018, raised as much as $20 million for these primary campaigns, The New York Times reported in April. The organization also endorsed Zohran Mamdani, who came from behind to win the Democratic primary in the New York City mayoral election against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month. Mamdani was behind in the polls before defeating the former governor and Democratic Party mainstay by 12 points. Hogg left his DNC position after clashing with leadership over his primary efforts, and said he would not run for reelection after an internal committee voided his prior election to vice chair in June. Hogg's PAC is dedicated to 'electing young progressives,' but both Foxx and Grijalva are vying for progressive support in the primary campaign. Raul Grijalva was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and reliable supporter for liberal causes in the House. Adelita Grijalva has sought to portray herself similarly, and the candidates' policy positions are similar. Both Foxx and Grijalva have extensive policy platforms dedicated to opposing President Donald Trump's domestic agenda, expanding affordable housing and fighting for environmental justice and tribal sovereignty. Foxx's campaign also points to support for other popular left-wing causes, including Medicare for All. But Grijalva has also racked up endorsements from major progressive organizations and leaders, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as well as both of Arizona's sitting Democratic senators, Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Ruben Gallego. Foxx has centered her criticism on establishment Democrats circling the wagons for establishment candidates, noting that three senior Democratic members of Congress died within the first six months of Trump's second term, handing Republicans a larger advantage.
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Andrew Cuomo announces run for New York City mayor as an independent
Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, said on Monday that he will run as an independent in New York City's mayoral race, after losing in the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani. Many saw Cuomo as the favorite in the primary, but he ultimately lost to Mamdani, a current member of the New York state assembly, by more than 12 points. Some corporate leaders, moderate Democrats and Republicans have expressed concern about Mamdani's progressive policy platform and stance on issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Cuomo, who resigned as New York governor in 2021 after facing sexual harassment allegations, also faces competition from Republican Curtis Sliwa, and the current New York mayor, Eric Adams, who also decided to run as an independent following a federal indictment. People close to Cuomo's campaign attributed the primary loss to an 'an anemic get-out-the-vote effort', according to a Politico report. In announcing the independent run, Cuomo thanked his supporters and said: 'I am truly sorry that I let you down. 'As my grandfather used to say, when you get knocked down, learn the lesson and pick yourself back up and get in the game, and that is what I'm going to do.' He only mentioned 'his opponent' Mamdani and not any of the other candidates, but some, including Adams, have suggested that the independents and the Republican candidate will simply pull votes away from one another, clearing the path for Mamdani to win. 'While Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams trip over each other to win the approval of billionaires in backrooms, our campaign remains focused on working New Yorkers and their clear desire for a different kind of politics,' Mamdani posted on X. Mamdani has support from 35% of registered voters, while 25% Cuomo, followed by Sliwa and Adams in fourth place, according to a poll taken earlier this month by Slingshot Strategies.
