 "US heads to polls in key elections as Trump weighs in on NYC mayoral race, spotlight on Zohran Mamdani")
As Americans cast their votes in crucial elections across New York City, New Jersey, Virginia, and California, US President Donald Trump has once again injected himself into the political fray — this time by wading into New York City’s fiercely contested mayoral race.
In a social media post, Trump lashed out at Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, calling any Jewish person voting for him a “stupid person” and branding the candidate a “proven and self professed JEW HATER” — an unsubstantiated claim echoing rhetoric often used by far-right activists.
Throughout his campaign, Mamdani has courted support across communities, visiting Jewish temples, pledging to increase funding for investigations into anti-Semitic incidents, and earning endorsements from several Jewish organisations and politicians.
Election Day — November 4 — marks the first nationwide vote of Trump’s second term, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The results are expected to serve as a key barometer of public sentiment toward his administration. Alongside the high-stakes New York City mayoral race, gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia are also drawing national attention.
Mamdani, 34, born in Uganda and raised in New York City, is a state assembly member and democratic socialist vying to become the city’s next mayor. He faces former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Current Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race in September amid mounting scandals.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsPolls leading up to Election Day showed Mamdani ahead of Cuomo by double digits. The son of acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani, he had already scored a major upset in June when he defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary.
Trump, however, has thrown his weight behind Cuomo, openly urging supporters to vote for him while threatening to withhold federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins.
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” Trump said on Truth Social, warning that the city would become a “complete and total economic and social disaster” under Mamdani’s leadership.
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” Trump added. “It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm… New York City will be a Complete and Total Economic and Social Disaster should Mamdani win.”
Mamdani quickly fired back, saying Trump’s endorsement of Cuomo confirmed what his campaign had long suggested.
“We’ve known since the Primary that Andrew Cuomo was funded by the same billionaires that gave us Donald Trump’s second term… But now it’s written out for the entire world to see. This is the man that Donald Trump wants to be the next mayor of New York City — and not because he’ll be good for New Yorkers, but because he’ll be good for Donald Trump,” Mamdani said.
If elected, Mamdani has pledged sweeping social reforms, including rent freezes, fare-free public buses, universal childcare, and city-owned grocery stores designed to lower living costs.
His campaign has drawn significant attention and support — including a call from former President Barack Obama, who reportedly told Mamdani that his “campaign has been impressive to watch.”
Meanwhile, voters across New Jersey, Virginia, and California are casting ballots in gubernatorial and local contests widely seen as key indicators of national political sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
With inputs from agencies
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