As Andrew M. Cuomo attempts to regain his footing in the race for mayor of New York City, he has adopted an increasingly aggressive strategy, frequently targeting his main opponent, Zohran Mamdani, on social media—sometimes multiple times a day. This past weekend, his confrontational approach garnered significant attention after the former governor launched a scathing attack on a particularly sensitive issue: Mr. Mamdani's rent-stabilized apartment.
In a post on X that amassed over 26 million views, Mr. Cuomo claimed that “a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter” due to Mr. Mamdani, a state assemblyman, allegedly “occupying her rent-controlled apartment.” He accused Mr. Mamdani of being “rich,” emphasizing that assembly members earn over $140,000 a year, and called for him to “move out.” In subsequent replies, Mr. Cuomo escalated his rhetoric, labeling Mr. Mamdani as “disgusting” and accusing him of “callous theft.”
Mr. Cuomo's remarks were directed at Mr. Mamdani’s one-bedroom, rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria, Queens, which the assemblyman rents for $2,300 a month. Unlike market-rate apartments, rent-stabilized units are typically more affordable, with rent increases regulated by the city's Rent Guidelines Board. Rent-stabilized tenants generally have the right to renew their leases, allowing them to stay for extended periods. The debate surrounding the accessibility of these sought-after apartments has been a contentious issue in a city grappling with a housing crisis.
Notably, it is striking that Mr. Cuomo has chosen to attack Mr. Mamdani on this issue, given that Mr. Cuomo is a multimillionaire who moved to the city only a year ago and pays approximately $8,000 in monthly rent. Mr. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is the Democratic nominee and front-runner, having decisively defeated Mr. Cuomo and other candidates in the primary. Currently, Mr. Cuomo is campaigning as a third-party candidate in the upcoming general election, while incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is also in the race.
After receiving criticism for his lackluster primary campaign, Mr. Cuomo is attempting to persuade wealthy donors that he is the best candidate to challenge Mr. Mamdani and put pressure on Mr. Adams to withdraw from the race. The recent attack and subsequent comments come as Mr. Cuomo seeks to shift focus from a week filled with inquiries regarding his relationship with President Trump.
During a closed-door meeting with prominent business leaders in the city, Mr. Cuomo stated that he was not “personally” seeking a confrontation with the president, likening their long-standing relationship to a “dysfunctional marriage.” Reports from earlier this week indicated that Mr. Trump and Mr. Cuomo had discussed the mayoral race during a phone call, although both have denied these claims. In a statement on Saturday, Dora Pekec, a spokeswoman for Mr. Mamdani, compared Mr. Cuomo's social media behavior to that of Mr. Trump, suggesting that Mr. Cuomo is mirroring Trump’s tactics.
In February, Mr. Mamdani explained to the New York Editorial Board that he found his apartment on StreetEasy while earning an annual salary of only $47,000. He expressed intentions to move out of the apartment, stating, “I don’t plan on living in that apartment for perpetuity.” This context highlights the complexity of housing issues in New York City and the challenges faced by candidates in the mayoral race.
The post by Mr. Cuomo came shortly before he attended a private fundraiser in East Hampton, one of the state's wealthiest summer destinations, and elicited immediate backlash from Mr. Mamdani’s supporters. Brad Lander, the city comptroller and an ally of Mr. Mamdani, responded on X, pointing out that during Mr. Cuomo’s tenure as governor, tens of thousands of apartments were removed from rent stabilization, many transitioning to market rates. He condemned Mr. Cuomo’s attack as “petty bullying” and highlighted Mr. Mamdani’s advocacy for affordable housing.
Following the uproar, Mr. Cuomo defended his position, stating that Mr. Mamdani and his campaign had “evaded scrutiny” and asserted that he would promote “real affordability.” In another post on X, Mr. Cuomo proclaimed, “Welcome to the heavyweight bout,” signaling his intention to continue his aggressive campaign strategy.
