Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., told Newsmax on Saturday that Zohran Mamdani's apparent victory in New York City's Democrat mayoral primary shows "how far left the Democratic Party has gone."
On Tuesday, Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim born in Uganda, claimed victory over the establishment candidate, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in the Democrat primary. While the results have yet to be finalized, Mamdani had a commanding lead that will be exceedingly difficult for Cuomo to overcome when the vote count resumes July 1 in New York City's ranked choice voting system.
Mamdani, a self-labeled Democratic Socialist, has promised residents of the Big Apple many socialist initiatives such as freezing rent for all tenants in stabilized apartments for four years, a $30 minimum wage, government-run grocery stores, and free bus rides.
"Sadly, in cities like mine in particular, we have a really dangerous situation here, and we need to do everything we can to ensure that he is defeated in November," Malliotakis said during an appearance on "Saturday Report."
"I just met a little while ago with Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate. And as it stands right now, if you have three Democrats on the ballot — Cuomo, [Mayor Eric] Adams and Mamdani — Curtis has the ability to get in and win with as little as 30% of the vote, which he did get last time when he ran a one-on-one against Mayor Adams," she said.
Incumbent Adams, who is a Democrat, pulled out of the primary to instead run as an independent in the general election.
Cuomo appears down but might not yet be out. The former governor could also run in the general election on an independent ballot line.
"The bottom line here is we can never allow somebody with socialist and communist views to be elected here in the United States."
Malliotakis said that while there are some socialists in the Democrat ranks, Mamdani even goes further.
"And as you mentioned, he is anti-police, he's antisemitic. He has said he wants to raise property taxes on white people. So there's a racist component to this as well," she said.
"And he is somebody who does not support capitalism. He said it straight out. He's being very honest. When people tell you who they are, believe them."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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