NYC Mayoral Nominee Mamdani Faces Scrutiny Over Police Domestic Violence Response Comments

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front-runner and nominee for New York City mayor in 2025, has faced scrutiny over resurfaced comments from a 2020 podcast in which he suggested the NYPD should not respond to domestic violence calls, arguing that such situations would be better handled by trained crisis responders rather than armed police officers. Mamdani’s platform includes establishing a Department of Community Safety to address violence with a public health approach, particularly focusing on mental health crises. His stance has drawn criticism from advocates like Sonia Ossorio of the National Organization for Women, who emphasized the urgent need for police intervention in high-lethality domestic violence cases, and former NYPD officers warning that removing police could increase violence. While Mamdani has not explicitly clarified if he would prevent police response to domestic violence if elected, his campaign has not responded to inquiries on this topic. His comments and proposals have become a focal point in the mayoral race, especially given his significant lead over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has yet to declare an independent run after losing the primary. Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has congratulated Mamdani but refrained from endorsing him in the general election.