How Opponents Are Responding to New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani

What New Yorkers Opposed to Zohran Mamdani Are Planning Next

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key Takeaways

• Zohran Mamdani will take office as New York City’s mayor on Jan. 1, 2026, after winning with about 51% of the vote in a historically high-turnout election.
• Nearly half of voters backed other candidates, primarily former governor Andrew Cuomo, reflecting deep ideological and cultural divisions within the city’s Democratic electorate.
• Opponents are coalescing around two main responses: visible support for Israel in light of Mamdani’s anti-Zionist stance, and organizing to elect more moderate Democrats in the 2026 midterms.
• Many business owners and moderates are taking a “wait-and-see” approach, watching how Mamdani’s ambitious agenda on free buses, universal childcare, and a $30 minimum wage interacts with state-level constraints.
• Rather than leaving the city, critics are exploring long-term civic engagement, protests, and strategic voting as ways to shape policy under the new administration.

Table of Contents

• How Mamdani Won With a Narrow Majority
• Identity, Ideology, and Why Opposition Is So Intense
• Supporting Israel as a Form of Political Resistance
• What Cuomo Voters Do Next: A Strategy for Moderates
• Business Leaders and the “Wait-and-See” Economy
• How You Can Engage Locally in Mamdani’s NYC

How Mamdani Won With a Narrow Majority

Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor on Jan. 1, 2026. He won about 51% of the vote, while roughly 49% of voters chose someone else  mostly former governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, and a smaller share for Republican Curtis Sliwa.

The election drew over 2 million voters, the highest turnout for a city contest in more than 50 years. That surge signals not only enthusiasm for Mamdani among progressives and younger voters in Brooklyn and South Asian communities in Queens, but also intense mobilization against him in more suburban and middle-class neighborhoods.

This combination means Mamdani enters office with highly energized supporters and equally energized opponents, a dynamic that will likely shape every major policy debate in the coming years.

Identity, Ideology, and Why Opposition Is So Intense

Mamdani is a self-described democratic socialist committed to expanding social programs, including proposals for universal childcare and major transit changes. He has previously supported calls to defund the police and endorsed boycotts of Israel, drawing sharp criticism from moderates and many in the Jewish community.

Even in a city where Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans, a sizable block of moderate Democrats rejected his candidacy. Concerns center on:

• Budget feasibility of expansive social programs
• Public safety and policing policy
• His rhetoric on Israel and Zionism

As political consultant Hank Sheinkopf put it, these voters will now “have to live with him” and are poised to monitor the new administration closely.

Supporting Israel as a Form of Political Resistance

For many opposed to Mamdani, especially Jewish New Yorkers, support for Israel has become a central way to express dissent. Exit polls suggest that about two-thirds of Jewish voters opposed Mamdani, while roughly one-third backed him.

Rabbi Avi Weiss, founding rabbi of a modern Orthodox synagogue in the Bronx, is among those leading visible forms of protest. He has called Mamdani antisemitic for his anti-Zionist positions and promises to seek the arrest of Israel’s prime minister for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Weiss plans to hold a “vigil of conscience” at the inauguration and rejects the idea of leaving the city, arguing that “this is not the time to run.”

The tension intensified after Mamdani commented on a protest outside a Manhattan synagogue hosting an event tied to Jewish immigration to Israel and the occupied West Bank. He condemned some demonstrators’ slogans, but also declared that places of worship should not “violate international law,” referencing settlement activity. Jewish groups responded with swift criticism, underscoring how foreign policy and identity politics are now tightly interwoven with local governance.

If you are personally invested in Middle East policy, one way to engage is to:

• Join or observe local vigils, protests, or interfaith dialogues.
• Track public statements from city officials on international issues.
• Connect with community organizations that reflect your views for coordinated advocacy.

What Cuomo Voters Do Next: A Strategy for Moderates

Cuomo received about 41% of the general-election vote, drawing moderate Democrats, independents, and some Republicans. According to analyst and professor J.C. Polanco, this coalition now faces a clear strategic path: channel that energy into supporting incumbent, more moderate Democrats in the 2026 midterms.

The Democratic Socialists of America, of which Mamdani is a member, has helped elect high-profile progressive figures in the city since 2018. Their strategy now includes primary challenges against incumbents viewed as too centrist or too supportive of Israel. One notable example: a progressive citywide official is challenging a pro-Israel member of Congress who declined to endorse Mamdani.

Polanco’s view is blunt: if moderates want “to see another day,” they must “stand firm and support normal Democrats” in primaries and general elections, where most outcomes are effectively decided inside the Democratic Party.

For readers seeking actionable steps:

• Research your district’s current representatives and their voting records.
• Follow filing deadlines and candidate announcements for 2026 primaries.
• Consider volunteering, donating, or simply turning out in low-visibility primary races, where small margins can shift the balance of power.

Business Leaders and the “Wait-and-See” Economy

Some of the strongest institutional resistance to Mamdani came from business elites and donors. Prominent financiers and former city leaders spent millions to support Cuomo, while certain business owners threatened to shutter stores or relocate if Mamdani prevailed.

Stratis Morfogen, a Manhattan restaurateur, opposed Mamdani’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $30 by 2030, arguing it would harm small businesses. Although he had previously clashed with Cuomo over pandemic restrictions, he supported Cuomo in the general election to block what he viewed as a more radical economic agenda. Now, he has paused expansion plans and is contemplating a move to Florida, but for the moment has adopted a “wait-and-see” posture.

Other small business leaders echo this cautious stance. They know that many of Mamdani’s flagship promises  such as free buses and universal childcare  would require tax increases and cooperation from the state government. The current governor, a moderate Democrat, has signaled reluctance to approve major tax hikes, meaning some of Mamdani’s ideas may face institutional brakes before they significantly reshape the business landscape.

As one small-business advocate summarized, the plan is to “give him the benefit of the doubt until he [expletive] it up himself,” encapsulating a blend of skepticism and guarded patience.

How You Can Engage Locally in Mamdani’s NYC

Whether you supported Mamdani or did not, the article’s core message for opponents is to stay engaged rather than disengage. Data on population movement so far shows no major exodus, despite social-media threats to leave.

From a civic-participation standpoint, you can:

• Attend local meetings: Community boards, town halls, and council hearings are often where policy details get shaped.
• Track implementation: Watch what actually happens with proposals like childcare expansion, transit changes, and wage hikes. Separating rhetoric from policy is key.
• Join coalitions: Whether you lean progressive, moderate, or conservative, local organizations can amplify your voice on specific issues such as policing, education, or taxation.
• Prepare for midterms: Mark the 2026 primary dates on your calendar and subscribe to trusted local news or newsletters to follow candidate platforms.

To deepen your understanding of city politics, consider exploring:

• Guides to New York City’s ranked-choice voting system
• Explainers on how the city budget is negotiated with the state
• Profiles of emerging progressive and moderate leaders

In a city defined by constant change, the next four to eight years will test how a narrowly elected, deeply polarizing mayor navigates an electorate that is both hopeful and wary. For residents, the opportunity is to move beyond campaign rhetoric and shape what governance under this administration will actually look like on the ground.

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/28/anti-mamdani-vote-new-york-city-mayor/87817353007/