Mandani urges New Yorkers to vote for a “Dignified City”
New York, New York Oct 26 (EFE).-
Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Sunday urged New Yorkers to vote for a “freer and more dignified city” in the Nov. 4 election, framing his campaign as a stand against “oligarchy and authoritarianism.”
“We have the chance to show the world that we want to be free,” Mamdani told a packed crowd of about 10,000 supporters at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. “And that means voting to improve people’s lives against those who want to buy democracy.”
Under the slogan “New York Is Not for Sale,” the 34-year-old lawmaker vowed to tackle the city’s soaring cost of living with policies “for the many, not the few,” including free public buses, stronger rent controls and expanded affordable housing.
“The billionaires backing Trump think they can win elections with money,” Mamdani said. “But we have the power of the people. The truth is simple and nonnegotiable: New Yorkers deserve to live with dignity.”
Early voting began Saturday, and polls show Mamdani leading the race to replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who withdrew from re-election. His main challengers are independent Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, who faces an uphill battle in the heavily Democratic city.
Mamdani has faced sustained criticism from his opponents, especially Cuomo, over his sharp rebukes of the Israeli government, which he has accused of committing genocide in Gaza.
He dismissed the attacks as part of a “smear campaign rooted in Islamophobia.”
“They don’t want someone like me — an immigrant, a progressive and a Muslim — leading New York,” he said. “They’ve worked day and night to discredit me and the people of this city, even using AI-generated videos. The truth is, they have no vision for the future.”
Speaking partly in Spanish in a campaign video, Mamdani drew cheers from a diverse crowd. “Mamdani gives us hope because he knows how to fight — and he’s going to win. All New Yorkers will win,” one attendee told EFE.
The rally featured frequent applause for Mamdani and jeers for President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House earlier this year. Trump has acknowledged that Mamdani “has the upper hand” in the election but warned that he would block federal funds to New York if the socialist-leaning Democrat wins.
Mamdani appeared alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have been touring the country under the banner “Fight Against Oligarchy.”
“We’re here to tell Trump that authoritarianism has no place here,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It’s time to demand dignity — to afford a home and accept our neighbors. None of that is radical.”
Sanders, a Brooklyn native, told the crowd that “people all over the world are watching these elections” at a time when Trump “is leading us toward an authoritarian society where billionaires pick the candidates they want to win.”
“A victory here will be inspiring and hopeful for the entire country and the world,” he said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also joined the event, accusing Trump of “terrorizing innocent people” with immigration raids.
“His administration runs on fear, cruelty and division,” she said. “But New York runs on hope.” EFE
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