Defeat Isn't Enough For Andrew Cuomo And His Pack Of Lunatics | Defector

"A New York City mayoral election is, definitionally, not anyone outside of the city's business. That this year's campaign, which ended in Zohran Mamdani's victory on Tuesday night, became everybody's business, and a big stupid national story, speaks to the effectiveness of Mamdani's campaign and the power of his socialist message, but also to the wild bigotry that was arrayed against him."

"There are no consequences for engaging in gutter racism in this country, so long as it is aimed at a brown-skinned Muslim. One story about this election can be told through the increasing intensity of the racism and Islamophobia that was aimed at Mamdani by those who were emboldened by that lack of consequences. This story began with Mamdani being peppered with ludicrous questions about Hamas and the precise meaning of "intifada," and it ended with several United States lawmakers talking and posting like Klansmen."

"The premise of Cuomo's primary campaign was that the mayor's office was his by right, because of his last name and because of the indignity he had been forced to endure when he resigned from his position as New York's governor in disgrace. Cuomo carried himself throughout the run-up to the summer primary like someone who didn't even want the job, but nevertheless understood it as something that the people of New York City owed to him."

Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral election amid intense national attention driven by his effective socialist campaign and widespread bigotry. Racism and Islamophobia escalated without consequence when aimed at a brown-skinned Muslim candidate. Attacks ranged from absurd questions about Hamas and the precise meaning of "intifada," to United States lawmakers posting and speaking like Klansmen. Andrew Cuomo played a central role in intensifying the rhetoric, asserting entitlement to the mayoralty based on his name and past indignities from his gubernatorial resignation. Cuomo shifted strategy after a primary loss. A persistent political machine exists to dispense Islamophobia whenever reactivated.

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