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The Hill
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Gillibrand calls for Mamdani to denounce ‘intifada' comments
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) called on New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to denounce the phrase 'globalize the intifada' as he appears to be the likely Democratic nominee for the office. Gillibrand said in response to a question from a caller during an appearance on radio host Brian Lehrer's show on WNYC that she's heard from New York constituents who are 'extremely alarmed' by some public statements Mamdani has made defending those who call for global intifada. 'This is a very serious issue because people that glorify the slaughter of Jews create fear in our communities. The global intifada is a statement that means destroy Israel and kill all the Jews,' she argued. 'These are the kinds of things that, if Mr. Mamdani is elected our mayor, we'll need to assure all New Yorkers that he will protect all Jews and protect houses of worship and protect funding for not-for-profits that meet the needs of these communities,' Gillibrand continued. The meaning of the phrase has caused significant debate, particularly since Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and throughout the war that has ensured. It also became a point of criticism directed at Mamdani leading up to this week's Democratic mayoral primary. Many pro-Palestinian activists have said the phrase means Palestinians fighting for their rights and liberation from Israeli occupation. Many pro-Israel activists and many Jewish people view it as calling for violence against Jews, referencing the first and second intifadas that took place in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, during which Palestinians in both Palestinian territories and Israel engaged in an uprising in which significant violence occurred and many on both sides died. Mamdani faced criticism as the primary approached over an interview he gave last week in which he said 'what I hear in so many is a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights.' He made a comparison between those calls for intifada and the Warsaw ghetto uprising the took place during the Holocaust in which Jews fought back against the Nazis and some escaped. He cited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., saying the museum used the word 'intifada' when translating the Warsaw Uprising into Arabic, as intifada means 'struggle.' This led to the museum issuing a rare statement denouncing the comparison, calling it 'offensive to survivors.' Mamdani has responded to the criticism by maintaining that he would be a major for all New Yorkers and is committed to protecting his Jewish constituents against rising antisemitism. Gillibrand said she had spoken to him about this issue and he agreed to work with her to protect all residents of the city. 'These are things that he has assured me in my one conversation that he will protect everyone, but I understand why people are concerned because of past statements,' she said. 'This is just an issue that I will work with him on, for sure.' Gillibrand also made references to Mamdani using the word 'jihad,' but her communications director later said in a post on X that she misspoke and her concern was Mamdani's refusal to denounce 'globalize the intifada.' 'As a leader of a city as diverse as New York City, with 8 million people, as the largest Jewish population in the country, he should denounce it,' she said, referring to the intifada phrase. 'That's it. Period. You can't celebrate it. You can't value it. You can't lift it up. That is the challenge that Jewish New Yorkers have had certainly since Oct. 7. It is exactly what they have felt.' Gillibrand said she's not endorsing Mamdani right now but congratulated him on his victory in the primary. The Hill has reached out to Mamdani's campaign for comment. Mamdani seems all but certain to become the Democratic nominee for mayor, scoring a major upset against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani hasn't formally been declared the winner yet, but Cuomo conceded the primary and Mamdani declared victory. Cuomo has been considering whether to continue in the general election as an independent, which he has qualified for.
New York Post
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Sen. Gillibrand rips NYC mayor hopeful Zohran Mamdani's controversial intifada comments, insists he should ‘denounce it'
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has ripped mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani's controversial comments on intifada — insisting the Democratic socialist should emphatically 'denounce it' if he wants to rep the Big Apple. Gillibrand, a pro-Israel Democrat, laid into Mamdani for refusing to condemn the 'globalize the intifada' rallying cry used by others as she demanded a sit-down with him so he can explain himself. 'As a leader of a city as diverse as New York City with 8 million people, as the largest Jewish population in the country, he should denounce it. And that's it. Period,' Gillibrand said during an appearance on WNYC on Thursday. 4 Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayoral election primary. REUTERS 4 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sparred with radio hosts on Mamdani's victory. LP Media The senator stressed that it was not enough for the 33-year-old Queens assemblyman to dubiously claim that intifada is not a call for violence but a broader term referring to resistance and uprisings. 'It doesn't matter what meaning you have in your brain, it is not how the word is received. And when you use a word like Intifada, to many Jewish Americans and Jewish New Yorkers, that means you are permissive for violence against Jews,' Gillibrand said. 'It is a serious word. It is a word that has deep meaning. It has been used for wars across time and violence and destruction and slaughter and murder against the Jews,' she continued. 4 Zohran Mamdani is an assemblyman now running to be NYC's. next mayor. Stephen Yang 'It is a harmful, hurtful, inappropriate word for anyone who wants to represent a city as diverse as New York City with 8 million people.' Gillibrand said she spoke to Mamdani on the phone after his Democratic primary upset over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this week, but now wants a meeting to hash it out. 'I've never sat down with Mr Mamdani. So I've asked to have that meeting. I'm going to have that meeting,' she said. 4 New York, New York, United States: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) alongside U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Mariama James (R). Gillibrand said she had already expressed her concerns directly to Mamdani about his statements regarding Israel and pubic safety — and that he'd vowed to work with her if he's elected. 'This is something I care deeply about, and so I will be an advocate on these issues. These are things that I think are important to New Yorkers,' she said. 'And I will work with him when he gets elected, if he gets elected, to make sure everyone is protected.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some candidates focus on blocking Cuomo's path a day before NYC's mayoral primary
NEW YORK (AP) — Their chances of becoming the next mayor of New York City may have dimmed. Their mission now? Stopping former Gov. Andrew Cuomo from getting to City Hall. In the final day of campaigning before the city's Democratic primary, candidates who are seen as long shots to win the nomination were urging voters to leave Cuomo off their ballots in the city's ranked choice election in a last-ditch effort to block the former governor's comeback from a sexual harassment scandal. 'Let's make sure Andrew Cuomo gets nowhere near City Hall,' candidate and city Comptroller Brad Lander said Monday on WNYC radio, which interviewed the major candidates ahead of the election. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, another candidate, similarly asked voters to not vote for Cuomo, telling the station, 'We need fresh leadership, we need to turn the page and we need bold solutions at this moment.' The pitches came as Cuomo, who has been considered the frontrunner for months, has also been trying to fend off a charge from Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman, would be the city's first Muslim and first Indian-American mayor if elected. A democratic socialist who got elected to the Legislature in 2020, Mamdani started the campaign as a relative unknown but has won support with a energetic campaign centered on improving the cost of living. The assault on Cuomo from fellow members of the Democratic field comes as he has continued to rack up establishment endorsements. Former President Bill Clinton endorsed Cuomo on Sunday, saying voters should not "underestimate the complexity" for the challenges faced by a mayor. The New York Times didn't issue an endorsement this year, but wrote an editorial praising Lander and saying Cuomo would be a better choice than Mamdani, who it said was unworthy of being on people's ballots. Cuomo and Mamdani have ratcheted up attacks on each other in the campaign's final days. 'He's about public relations," Cuomo said of Mamdani, dismissing his opponent as too focused on looking great on social media, and not skilled enough as an executive to run the city. Mamdani, meanwhile, exuded confidence, telling WNYC he is 'one day from toppling a political dynasty.' 'New Yorkers are done with the cynical politics of the past. They want a future they can afford,' said Mamdani, who was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. In a way, Mamdani and Cuomo represent the Democratic Party's ideological divides, with Cuomo as an older moderate and Mamdani a younger progressive. Their reactions to the American bombing of Iran's nuclear sites on Sunday offered more evidence of the party's internal split. Cuomo, in a statement, criticized 'the way Trump went about this without consulting Congress, without consulting the normal congressional officials' but stressed that 'Iran cannot have nuclear capability.' Mamdani released a statement that slammed Trump but quickly shifted focus back to his key issues, saying 'these actions are the result of a political establishment that would rather spend trillions of dollars on weapons than lift millions out of poverty, launch endless wars while silencing calls for peace, and fearmonger about outsiders while billionaires hollow out our democracy from within.' Cuomo, who won three terms as governor, resigned in 2021 after a report from the state attorney general concluded that he sexually harassed 11 women. He has denied wrongdoing. New York City is using ranked choice voting in its Democratic mayoral primary election Tuesday, a system that allows voters to rank up to five candidates in order of preference. If one candidate is the first choice of a majority of voters, that person wins the race outright. If nobody hits that threshold, the votes are then tabulated in multiple rounds. After each round, the candidate in last place is eliminated. Votes cast for that person are then redistributed to the candidates ranked next on the voter's ballot. That continues until one candidate gets a majority. Cuomo's opponents have urged voters not to rank him at all and therefore deprive him of support in later rounds of counting. 'You do not have to go back to the name of Andrew Cuomo,' said Michael Blake, a former state lawmaker running in the primary. He told voters on WNYC that it was time to move on from the former governor. Eleven candidates are on the ballot in the Democratic mayoral primary. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams isn't one of them. He's a Democrat but is running as an independent. The Republican Party has already picked its nominee, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Andrew Cuomo Rivals Unite Against Him Before NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Rivals of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo found common ground on Monday, urging voters across New York City to leave the Democratic mayoral front-runner off their ballots in the city's ranked choice primary election on Tuesday. Why It Matters The former governor has led most polls since entering the mayoral race in March, but Cuomo has gotten some troubling signs in recent weeks, as state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a favorite among progressives, gained traction. Cuomo won three terms as governor of New York but resigned from office in 2021 after the state attorney general's office determined that he sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing. Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks during a primary debate on June 4 in New York City. Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks during a primary debate on June 4 in New York City. Yuki Iwamura/AP What To Know Democratic candidate and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander told WNYC radio, which interviewed all the major candidates ahead of Tuesday's primary: "Let's make sure Andrew Cuomo gets nowhere near City Hall." Zellnor Myrie, New York state senator and another Cuomo rival, told WNYC: "We need fresh leadership, we need to turn the page and we need bold solutions at this moment." Michael Blake, former New York state lawmaker, also sought to turn voters away from Cuomo, telling WNYC: "You do not have to go back to the name of Andrew Cuomo," adding that it was time to move on from the former governor. Lander, Myrie and Blake's comments came after Mamdani appeared to pull ahead of Cuomo in a new survey from Emerson College Polling, widely considered one of the most reputable pollsters. The survey found that Cuomo still leads the pack, clocking in at 35 percent support compared to Mamdani's 32 percent, which is within the poll's margin of error. But when voters were asked to rank up to five candidates in order of preference, Mamdani came out ahead with 52 percent support, while Cuomo came in second at 48 percent. The results were tallied after eight rounds of simulated ranked choice voting. Rich Azzopardi, spokesperson for Cuomo, told Newsweek the Emerson poll was an "outlier." "Every other credible poll in this election, including two released last week, has shown Governor Cuomo with a double-digit lead, which is exactly where this election will end tomorrow. Between now and then, we will continue to fight for every vote like he will fight for every New Yorker as mayor," Azzopardi said. Mamdani, for his part, told WNYC on Monday that he believes he's "one day from toppling a political dynasty," referring to Cuomo. Before he was governor, his father, Mario Cuomo, served as New York's governor for three terms, from 1983 to 1994. "New Yorkers are done with the cynical politics of the past," Mamdani, who was endorsed in the race by progressive darlings including New York U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, told WNYC. "They want a future they can afford." Cuomo hit back at his most daunting opponent, telling the station that Mamdani is "about public relations" and lacks the skills and experience needed to be New York mayor. What People Are Saying Ocasio-Cortez formally endorsed Mamdani on June 5 and urged the left to unite against Cuomo, telling The New York Times: "Assemblymember Mamdani has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack. In the final stretch of the race, we need to get very real about that." Sanders officially endorsed Mamdani on Tuesday, writing on X, formerly Twitter: "At this dangerous moment in history, status quo politics isn't good enough. We need new leadership that is prepared to stand up to powerful corporate interests & fight for the working class. @ZohranKMamdani is providing that vision. He is the best choice for NYC mayor." What Happens Next New York City voters will hit the polls on Tuesday, but there's uncertainty over whether a brutal heat wave could affect turnout in the primary election. Cuomo, meanwhile, will be on the ballot regardless of whether he wins the Democratic primary because he will run on an independent line after forming the "Fight and Deliver" party. New York City's current mayor, Eric Adams, is also running as an independent. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Some candidates focus on blocking Cuomo's path a day before NYC's mayoral primary
NEW YORK (AP) — Their chances of becoming the next mayor of New York City may have dimmed. Their mission now? Stopping former Gov. Andrew Cuomo from getting to City Hall. In the final day of campaigning before the city's Democratic primary, candidates who are seen as long shots to win the nomination were urging voters to leave Cuomo off their ballots in the city's ranked choice election in a last-ditch effort to block the former governor's comeback from a sexual harassment scandal. 'Let's make sure Andrew Cuomo gets nowhere near City Hall,' candidate and city Comptroller Brad Lander said Monday on WNYC radio, which interviewed the major candidates ahead of the election. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, another candidate, similarly asked voters to not vote for Cuomo, telling the station, 'We need fresh leadership, we need to turn the page and we need bold solutions at this moment.' The pitches came as Cuomo, who has been considered the frontrunner for months, has also been trying to fend off a charge from Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman, would be the city's first Muslim and first Indian-American mayor if elected. A democratic socialist who got elected to the Legislature in 2020, Mamdani started the campaign as a relative unknown but has won support with a energetic campaign centered on improving the cost of living. The assault on Cuomo from fellow members of the Democratic field comes as he has continued to rack up establishment endorsements. Former President Bill Clinton endorsed Cuomo on Sunday, saying voters should not 'underestimate the complexity' for the challenges faced by a mayor. The New York Times didn't issue an endorsement this year, but wrote an editorial praising Lander and saying Cuomo would be a better choice than Mamdani, who it said was unworthy of being on people's ballots. Cuomo and Mamdani have ratcheted up attacks on each other in the campaign's final days. 'He's about public relations,' Cuomo said of Mamdani, dismissing his opponent as too focused on looking great on social media, and not skilled enough as an executive to run the city. Mamdani, meanwhile, exuded confidence, telling WNYC he is 'one day from toppling a political dynasty.' 'New Yorkers are done with the cynical politics of the past. They want a future they can afford,' said Mamdani, who was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. In a way, Mamdani and Cuomo represent the Democratic Party's ideological divides, with Cuomo as an older moderate and Mamdani a younger progressive. Their reactions to the American bombing of Iran's nuclear sites on Sunday offered more evidence of the party's internal split. Cuomo, in a statement, criticized 'the way Trump went about this without consulting Congress, without consulting the normal congressional officials' but stressed that 'Iran cannot have nuclear capability.' Mamdani released a statement that slammed Trump but quickly shifted focus back to his key issues, saying 'these actions are the result of a political establishment that would rather spend trillions of dollars on weapons than lift millions out of poverty, launch endless wars while silencing calls for peace, and fearmonger about outsiders while billionaires hollow out our democracy from within.' Cuomo, who won three terms as governor, resigned in 2021 after a report from the state attorney general concluded that he sexually harassed 11 women. He has denied wrongdoing. New York City is using ranked choice voting in its Democratic mayoral primary election Tuesday, a system that allows voters to rank up to five candidates in order of preference. If one candidate is the first choice of a majority of voters, that person wins the race outright. If nobody hits that threshold, the votes are then tabulated in multiple rounds. After each round, the candidate in last place is eliminated. Votes cast for that person are then redistributed to the candidates ranked next on the voter's ballot. That continues until one candidate gets a majority. Cuomo's opponents have urged voters not to rank him at all and therefore deprive him of support in later rounds of counting. 'You do not have to go back to the name of Andrew Cuomo,' said Michael Blake, a former state lawmaker running in the primary. He told voters on WNYC that it was time to move on from the former governor. Eleven candidates are on the ballot in the Democratic mayoral primary. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams isn't one of them. He's a Democrat but is running as an independent. The Republican Party has already picked its nominee, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. Error! 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