New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani is Working to Woo Black Voters Away from Adams and Cuomo

September 4, 2025

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary in June, is now working to connect with older Black voters after underperforming in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Black New Yorkers, comprising about 22% of the city's 8. 8 million residents, represent a crucial voting bloc that Mamdani needs to win over from his opponents—former Governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams—who have established long-standing relationships in these communities.

Who is affected

Black New Yorkers (22% of the city's 8.8 million people)
Older Black voters who have historical ties to Cuomo and Adams
Younger Black progressives who support Mamdani
Black homeowners and tenants struggling with affordability
Young professionals like Jerrell Gray who cannot afford their own housing
Unaffiliated registered voters (23.9% of the electorate)

What action is being taken

Mamdani is actively campaigning in Black neighborhoods like Harlem to build trust
Mamdani is focusing his campaign messaging on addressing the city's affordability crisis
Mamdani is speaking at civil rights rallies, including addressing Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network
Politicians like Brooklyn Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn are now endorsing Mamdani
Cuomo and Adams are running as independents in the November general election

Why it matters

Black New Yorkers are one of the city's most influential voting groups
Housing affordability is pushing Black residents out of the city
Mamdani won only 8 of 33 majority-Black neighborhoods in the primary while Cuomo won 25
The election outcome could determine how the city addresses its affordability crisis
The population of Black children and teenagers dropped significantly from 2010 to 2019
The race represents what one political analyst called "a desire for some kind of disruptive politics"

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint