For Zohran Mamdani, Eric Adams is a different kind of rival
The Eric Adams who was elected to be New York City’s second Black mayor in 2021 delivered a general election victory speech not so dissimilar from the one Zohran Mamdani gave last month. Both spoke of unity, hope and healing, of shared victories, building bridges and the collective power of New Yorkers.
“Tonight is not just a victory over adversity, it is a vindication of faith. It is a proof that people of this city will love you if you love them,” Adams said, speaking from the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. “It is the proof that the forgotten can be the future. It is the proof that this city can live up to its promise.”
“We have given our city permission to believe again,” Mamdani said less than four years later. “We will remake this great city not in my image but in the image of every New Yorker who has only known struggle. In our New York, the power belongs to the people.”
In this year’s Democratic primary, Mamdani’s nonstop exuberance stood in stark contrast to his main opponent Andrew Cuomo, who despite his devastating primary loss is still trying to make a case for himself as an independent candidate in the general election. While the former governor largely ducked press questions and made few if any uncontrolled appearances to speak with New Yorkers, Mamdani seemed to relish each interaction. “Andrew Cuomo just got back here from the suburbs,” Mamdani told City & State in April – repeating a frequent line of attack. “I think spending more than 20 years outside might color your vision of the city and how it works.” Those weaknesses are not ones Adams shares.
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/07/zohran-mamdani-eric-adams-different-kind-rival/406639/?oref=csny-homepage-river
= new reply since forum marked as read
Bookmarking
