Former Governor Andrew Cuomo's political operatives cast doubt on mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's past racial self-identification on a college application.
According to the New York Post, Race and identity have become focal points in the latest political showdown involving former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and new Democratic mayoral primary winner Zohran Mamdani.
Andrew Cuomo’s team triggered a storm by highlighting doubts over Zohran Mamdani’s racial declaration on his college forms. As the controversy unravels, it casts a shadow over the primary race that saw Mamdani triumph remarkably with 56% over Cuomo's 44% in ranked-choice voting.
Back in 2009, Zohran Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and has parents of Asian Indian heritage, marked himself as “Black or African American” and "Asian" on his Columbia University application.
Columbia had affirmative action policies in place at that time, which has led some to speculate about the motivations behind his choices on the application.
This action did not pass without criticism. Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, emphasized that this could suggest broader fraudulent behavior. He stated, "This issue must be fully investigated, because, if true, it could be fraud and just the tip of the iceberg."
Zohran Mamdani clarified his side of the story, expressing the complexity of racial identity on standardized documents. He said, "Most college applications don’t have a box for Indian-Ugandans, so I checked multiple boxes trying to capture the fullness of my background."
The Cuomo camp accuses the media of inadequate scrutiny over Mamdani's past, possibly affecting the surprising election outcome. Azzopardi criticized the press for what he perceived as a lack of thorough coverage: "This should come as no surprise as Mamdani, his proposals, his funding, and his background received absolutely no scrutiny from the press,” he noted during a conversation about the unfolding drama.
Meanwhile, Zohran Mamdani acknowledged that he considers his identity to be that of an American who was ironically born in Africa and not directly that of any race stated in typical classifications. This nuanced explanation reflects the complication of ascribing straightforward racial labels to diverse individual backgrounds.
Despite the controversies and fervent discussions around his racial identification, Mamdani’s primary success has been significant. He did, however, face challenges in winning over black voters, among whom Cuomo demonstrated stronger support, particularly in precincts having a black majority.
Detailed demographic data concerning the primary voters is awaited, with expectations set around mid-July for its release, which could offer deeper insights into the voting patterns. Nevertheless, Andrew Cuomo, undeterred by the primary results, has decided to continue his bid for the mayoral seat as an independent candidate.
In a blotched application over 15 years old, Mamdani attempted to navigate complex racial categorizations to reflect his multifaceted background. Even though Columbia eventually rejected the application, the incident has reopened discussions on race, identity, and their implications in political candidacies.
As the narrative unfolds between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, the broader questions of identity, political tactics, and electoral integrity remain central. Both camps prepare for the upcoming electoral battles, with the mayoral seat as the coveted prize. This race not only highlights the dynamics of political rivalry but also underscores the evolving conversations around racial and cultural identities in America’s political landscape.
