In a stunning turn of events, a major New York newspaper has thrown its weight behind independent candidate Andrew Cuomo for mayor, dismissing his Democratic rival as woefully unprepared for the city's top job.
Fox News reported that on Sunday, the New York Daily News endorsed Cuomo, praising his proven track record while sharply criticizing Democratic contender Zohran Mamdani for a campaign long on promises but short on substance.
Early voting kicked off in New York City on Saturday, setting the stage for a heated mayoral race culminating on November 4, 2025.
Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid controversy, still brings a decade of executive experience to the table, a point the Daily News hammered home as evidence of his ability to manage the complexities of city government.
In contrast, Mamdani's campaign has been painted as a hollow shell, fixated on a narrow set of issues like child care and rent, but offering no real roadmap for implementation.
The editorial board didn’t mince words, calling out Mamdani for dodging tough questions and failing to address critical topics like policing and housing—gaps that could spell disaster for a city that thrives on decisive leadership.
During the final mayoral debate, Mamdani’s lack of depth was on full display, with the Daily News describing his performance as a stumbling mess of empty sound bites.
"Zohran Mamdani’s dithering performance in the final mayoral debate pointed up the ongoing problem with his campaign. It’s a house of cards built on sound bites and laced with antisemitism," the New York Daily News Editorial Board wrote, pulling no punches in their assessment.
"But he stumbles and dodges when asked to venture beyond his surface-level focus on affordability and his four, and only four, narrow planks: child care, buses, rent, and grocery stores. It is not only naïve and maddening, but dangerous for a future mayor and points up how unfit he is for the office," they continued, highlighting the risks of such a limited vision.
While Cuomo’s past is far from spotless, the Daily News argued that his long public record shows a capacity to govern effectively, unlike Mamdani’s untested and vague platform.
"With Cuomo we can move ahead," the New York Daily News Editorial Board declared, framing the former governor as the safer bet for a city that can’t afford to experiment with unproven leadership.
Let’s be frank—promises of universal healthcare without a funding plan, as Mamdani offers, sound like progressive daydreams that crumble under scrutiny, especially when taxes are off the table as a solution.
Despite the scathing critique, a Fox News poll from earlier in October 2025 showed Mamdani holding a commanding 49% support, dwarfing Cuomo’s 28% and Republican Curtis Sliwa’s 13%.
That 21-point lead suggests Mamdani’s populist messaging resonates with many, but if the Daily News is right, voters might be buying a shiny package with nothing inside—a risky gamble for New York’s future.
As the campaign unfolded, both camps were contacted by Fox News Digital for comment, but neither Cuomo nor Mamdani’s team responded immediately, leaving the editorial’s sharp words to echo unchallenged for now.
