Concern Over Mamdani’s Candidacy

Douglas Hay, former Communications Director for the RNC, appeared on Fox News Thursday to discuss the mounting concerns regarding New York City council members and the Democratic mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani.

Prior to securing the Democratic mayoral nomination in June, Mamdani had campaigned against ex-governor Andrew Cuomo. While on “Special Report with Brett Baier,” Hay noted that Mamdani’s candidacy has already raised alarm among Democrats due to both his past remarks and the uncertainty about his current views.

“Democrats are understandably anxious about what Mamdani has said in the past, but they’re also worried about what he hasn’t yet communicated,” Hay mentioned. “We can expect to hear more about his tweets, posts, and past statements that may have flown under the radar until now.”

Hay emphasized that this situation presents a significant challenge for the Democratic Party.

“This is going to challenge Democrats, and the Republican Governors Association will likely attempt to connect this to the ongoing race in New Jersey, which shares the same media landscape,” Hay added.

Referencing the campaign of former North Carolina governor Mark Robinson, Hay noted how candidates like him faced similar challenges. “We’re probably looking at someone like Mark Robinson, who, every two years, was underestimated as a candidate,” he observed.

Robinson encountered serious backlash during his 2024 gubernatorial campaign after reports surfaced about explicit and disturbing comments he made while using the username “Minisoldr” on a pornographic website between 2008 and 2012. These comments included self-identifying as a “Black Nazi” and expressing controversial views on slavery.

Robinson denied the allegations, calling them “tabloid trash,” and initially filed a lawsuit against CNN, which he later dropped, announcing he wouldn’t pursue election in the future.

Likewise, Mamdani is facing scrutiny over past statements, particularly in relation to his application to Columbia University in 2009, where he listed “Asians” and “African Americans.” In an interview with the New York Times, he clarified that he does not identify strictly as either but as “American born in Africa.”

Mamdani has proposed policies such as rent freezes, establishing government-operated services like public transportation and grocery stores, and advocating for higher taxes in affluent neighborhoods. Notably, he has received endorsements from prominent figures like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.