Mamdani leads as Islamophobia roils race | JQJO

Zohran Mamdani’s double-digit lead in the New York City mayor’s race has electrified many Muslim New Yorkers and drawn a surge of Islamophobic attacks. Opponents Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, echoed by Mayor Eric Adams, have faced criticism for remarks and ads linking Mamdani to extremism, including Sliwa’s false “global jihad” claim, Cuomo’s chuckle at a radio smear, and an A.I. video from Cuomo’s campaign. Mamdani responded with an emotional address at a Bronx mosque as his campaign intensifies outreach across dozens of mosques. Supporters celebrate his rise but worry about safety; critics deny Islamophobia.