NYC Elites Rally Behind Adams To Halt Mamdani's Rise

Following Zohran Mamdani's surprising victory over Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, a coalition of Jewish community leaders, business executives, and Republican donors has formed to oppose Mamdani's far-left policies and strong opposition to Israel. This group is rallying behind incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent and has publicly criticized Mamdani as a "snake-oil salesman," framing the race as a choice between "blue-collar" leadership and "silver spoon" privilege. High-profile billionaires and investors, including Daniel S. Loeb, Meyer Orbach, and Bill Ackman, met with Adams to strategize legal and advertising efforts to blunt Mamdani's momentum. The coalition is concerned about Mamdani's proposals such as higher taxes on the wealthy, rent freezes, and city-run grocery stores, which have unsettled Wall Street and the city's affluent class. With Cuomo potentially withdrawing from the race, the likely general election contenders include Adams, Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and independent Jim Walden. The business leaders expressed urgency in their efforts to support Adams, viewing him as the candidate more aligned with maintaining New York City's capitalist identity.