Trump Endorses Cuomo for NYC Mayor in Battle Against 'Communist' Mamdani

LIVE – Updated at 13:09

President Donald Trump has backed Andrew Cuomo’s bid for New York City mayor while labeling frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, as a “communist.”

“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. If Mamdani wins, the president said it’s “highly unlikely” that he gives his hometown any more federal funds than the minimum required, he warned.

“Donald Trump is threatened by our campaign,” Mamdani fired back on CNN. “He's threatened by it because, like his, we've diagnosed the crisis in working-class New Yorkers' lives, the cost of living, but unlike him, we're actually going to deliver on that.”

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and Trump’s former DOGE boss, also threw his support behind Cuomo at the eleventh hour.

Meanwhile, gubernatorial races are unfolding in two key states: New Jersey and Virginia.

The Virginia race will see pro-Trump candidate Winsome Earle-Sears going head-to-head with center-left candidate Abigail Spanberger.

In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill takes on Republican Jack Ciattarelli. But the race has been overshadowed by threats from Trump, who said that “election monitors” will be stationed at polling sites — a move Democrats have branded as voter intimidation.

Key Points Americans to go the polls in New York, California, New Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday Trump blasts Mamdani as a 'communist' and backs rival Cuomo When will New Yorkers find out who has won the NYC mayoral race? Trump to participate in tele-rallies for gubernatorial races in NJ and VA Which races to watch ahead of Election Day

02:50 , Rachel Dobkin

There are several high-profile races to look out for as we head into Election Day on Tuesday.

New York City’s mayoral race Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is facing off against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

Mamdani is leading in the polls with 43.9 percent of voter support in a new Atlas Intel poll. Cuomo is trailing with 39.4 percent, followed by Sliwa with 15.5 percent.

Virginia’s gubernatorial race Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican, is running against former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in the governor’s race.

Spanberger is leading in the polls with 54 percent of voter support in a new Research Co. poll, compared to Earle-Sears’ 46 percent.

New Jersey’s gubernatorial race Former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli is the Republican choice in New Jersey, up against Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill.

New Jersey’s gubernatorial race is closer than Virginia’s. In the same Research Co. poll, Sherrill leads Ciattarelli by just three percentage points, 51 to 48 percent.

California’s ballot measure Californians will vote on whether they want to change the blue state’s congressional district maps in response to Texas’ redistricting in favor of Republicans.

More than 735,000 people have cast their ballots in NYC so far

13:09 , Kelly Rissman

Heading into Election Day, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers cast their ballots during early voting.

Here’s the voting breakdown so far: Manhattan - 212,679 Bronx - 58,661 Brooklyn - 243,737 Queens - 166,519 Staten Island - 53,721

Trump weighs in on candidates' appearance — again — in NYC race

13:05 , Kelly Rissman

President Donald Trump had a suggestion for GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa as New Yorkers cast their ballots on Election Day.

Sliwa, who is known for sporting a red beret as part of his Guardian Angels gear, “looks much better without the beret!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday.

On 60 Minutes Sunday, Trump also alluded to frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s looks.

“Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that?” CBS journalist Norah O’Donnell asked the president.

Trump replied: “Well, I think I'm a much better-looking person than him. Right?”

What did Trump say ahead of the NYC mayoral race?

12:56 , Kelly Rissman

President Donald Trump branded Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani a “communist” and announced he supported independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, just one day before Election Day in New York City.

The president threatened to only provide the “minimum” amount of federal funds, should Mamdani win the race.

“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!” he wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.

“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE. He was nothing as an Assemblyman, ranked at the bottom of the class and, as Mayor of potentially, again, the Greatest City in the World, HE HAS NO CHANCE to bring it back to its former Glory!” Trump continued.

“We must also remember this — A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” the president wrote.

Andrew Cuomo defends campaigning in a White Ford Bronco

12:00 , Owen Scott

Andrew Cuomo has defended himself after social media users suggested that campaigning in a White Ford Bronco, a car which has long been associated with O.J. Simpson, was in poor taste.

“It’s not the O.J. Bronco,” he said bluntly in a social media video.

“why is he driving around in the oj getaway car??” one X user wrote.

“Lol I'm sure he had a wide variety of vehicles to choose from, and went with that,” said another.

The vehicle was made infamous when he led police on a two-hour high-speed chase in Southern California, after he was charged with murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

Cuomo has described the car as his “good luck truck,” in a video which has been seen millions of times.

Watch: Trump claims that he is 'much better-looking' than Zohran Mamdani

11:30 , Owen Scott

Trump has claimed that he is ‘much better-looking’ than Zohran Mamdani, in his latest comment about his appearance.

In a CBS 60 Minutes interview, Norah O’Donnell asked the president whether he could see any similarities between himself and Mamdani.

“Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules,” O’Donnell suggested. “What do you think about that?”

The president replied: “Well, I think I'm a much better-looking person than him. Right?”

O’Donnell simply replied “okay,” before moving onto her next question.

Trump often comments publicly about how he looks. Most notably, he blasted Time Magazine for using a picture of him which he described as the “Worst of All Time.”

The president claimed that the magazine “disappeared” his hair, after it used a photograph taken from a low angle. The sunlight behind his head made his white hair look as though it had vanished.

The cover was centered around the peace deal agreed between Hamas and Israel, which Trump helped to broker.

Andrew Cuomo appears to confuse socialism and communism, as he compares Mamdani to regime in Cuba

11:00 , Owen Scott

Andrew Cuomo appeared to confuse socialism and communism, as he spoke to congregants of Heavenly Vision Church.

“Socialism hasn’t worked anywhere on the globe, not in Venezuela, not in Cuba,” he said, according to Norwood News . “It’s certainly not going to work here in New York.”

However, under Fidel Castro, Cuba was run under an explicitly communist regime. And Venezuela has a long history associated with communist movements, but is not run under a communist regime.

Mamdani has described himself as a Democratic Socialist and says that he is in favor of the state playing a role in keeping the costs of essential goods and services down.

New York Daily News backs Cuomo, saying Mamdani is running on a 'free, free, free and tax, tax, tax' platform

10:30 , Owen Scott

New York Daily News says that it has “strongly endorsed” Andrew Cuomo over Zohran Mamdani.

The newspaper said that Mamdani wants to “tax, tax, tax” New Yorkers to make services “free, free, free,” in a reference to the Democratic candidates plan to make bus fare free.

It also accused him of antisemitism, an accusation which Mamdani has long denied.

The publication argued that Cuomo “knows how to run a run a government” and how to “balance a budget.”

Andrew Cuomo says he won't blame Curtis Sliwa if Mamdani wins

10:07 , Owen Scott

Andrew Cuomo has rejected the idea that Curtis Sliwa remaining in the New York Mayor race could allow Zohran Mamdani to win.

“No, I’m not going to blame anyone, because I’m not going to lose tomorrow,” Cuomo insisted.

Sliwa is the Republican candidate in the race. He has long been a critic of Cuomo and has repeated branded the independent candidate as a “creep,” referencing the sexual assault allegations made against Cuomo.

The sexual assault charges have all been dropped, with many of them being dropped due to a lack of evidence. Cuomo has insisted that he is innocent.

Watch: New York Attorney General Letitia James backed Mamdani earlier this month

09:45 , Owen Scott

New York’s Attorney General Letitia James backed Mamdani on October 14, in a defiant speech in which she blasted Donald Trump.

James was indicted in April 2025, after Bill Pulte, Trump’s pick to run the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred her to the Department of Justice.

He claimed that she had misrepresented the nature of a property that she owns in Virginia. She has denied the charges.

Trump’s critics have suggested that the indictment is part of his crackdown on his political enemies.

James said “I fear no man” as she backed Mamdani on October 14.

“We see powerful voices trying to silence truth and punish dissent and yes – weaponize justice for political gain,” James said to applause. “We are witnessing the fraying of our democracy, the erosion of our system of government.

“This, my friends, is a defining moment in our history.”

Mamdani continues to ride high in the polls, but his lead could be narrowing

09:28 , Owen Scott

For weeks, Mamdani has been head-and-shoulders above his opponents in the polls.

Surveys from Quinnipiac University and Emerson College said that his lead could be in the double digits.

However, that gap could now be narrowing as New Yorkers cast their ballots.

A new AtlasIntel poll says that Mamdani is now just 5 points ahead of Andrew Cuomo.

Throughout his run, Mamdani has warned his supporters not to be complacent about their lead. In a social media video, he pointed out that Cuomo was widely believed to be the frontrunner in the Democratic primary before he was defeated.

The New Jersey race could give both parties an insight into the country's mood

09:18 , Owen Scott

Normally, New Jersey backs the Democratic Party. However, recent polls have suggested that the race between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill will be extremely tight.

National political trends have seen the country swing to the right, with suburban voters turning to Trump in the 2024 election.

The winner of the New Jersey gubernatorial race could offer a window into whether this trend will continue.

Sherrill is a very different candidate to New York’s Democratic nominee. She is a military veteran who is much closer to the political center, although she has also campaigned on lowering the cost-of-living.

Like Mamdani, she has suggested that her opponent will work fulfill Trump’s agenda.

“He’ll do whatever Trump tells him to do, and I will fight anybody to work for you,” Sherrill said.

Ciattarelli sparked controversy when he gave Trump an “A” grade on his second presidency, during a debate with Sherrill.

“He’s right about securing the border; inflation is much lower than under Biden; he halted offshore wind; he’s pushing back on New York’s congestion pricing; and he quadrupled the SALT (state and local taxes) deduction,” Ciatterelli said.

Elon Musk backs Andrew Cuomo with Mamdani claiming that it 'only cost $959 million in tax breaks'

09:06 , Owen Scott

Elon Musk has backed Andrew Cuomo in the race for Mayor of NYC and had claimed that “a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is.”

The tech CEO is one of many people to misspell Mamdani’s name, despite the Democratic candidate being one of the most high-profile politicians in the country and the frontrunner in the race.

Mamdani seemed unshaken by Musk’s endorsement of his rival though, and instead posted a subtle response on X.

“Another big endorsement for @andrewcuomo,” he wrote. “And it only cost $959 million in tax breaks.”

His post referenced Andrew Cuomo giving $959 million in tax breaks to a solar farm linked to Musk’s family, which was later acquired by Tesla.

The scheme was blasted by Cuomo’s rivals who said that it has failed to deliver for New Yorkers.

“Big promises that were made, many jobs that were to come that have not materialized and that have only gone to the benefit of Elon Musk,” Senator Zellnor Myrie said. “They have benefited from a property tax abatement that allows for him to spend very little money on very valuable property to produce very little jobs.”

Curtis Sliwa tells New Yorkers to listen to 'America's mayor' and vote for him

09:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Curtis Sliwa has told New Yorkers to listen to Rudy Giuliani, whom he called “America's mayor,” and vote for him.

Giuliani, a Republican who was New York City mayor during the 9/11 terror attacks, has endorsed Sliwa, the Republican nominee in the city’s mayoral race this year.

“Thank you for your endorsement tonight, Rudy! Ignore the noise and listen to America’s mayor, because if anyone knows how to save NYC, it’s the man who did it himself,” Sliwa wrote on X Monday night.

Trump blasts Mamdani as a 'communist' and backs rival Cuomo

08:58 , Owen Scott

Trump has branded Mamdani, the frontrunner in the NYC mayor race, as a ‘communist’ and has thrown his weight behind Andrew Cuomo.

However, the Democratic nominee quickly turned the tables on the president by sharing a cheeky post on social media, in which he directly addressed the endorsement.

Mamdani is running as an anti-Trump candidate, so he posted a picture of the president’s endorsement with a caption reading, “Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this.”

Meanwhile, the president has threatened to pull funding for New York if Mamdani wins, claiming that federal money will be wasted by the Democratic candidate.

Currently, the polls say that Mamdani is on track to win but voters won’t know who will become mayor of NYC until at least late this evening.

ICYMI: Trump takes swipe at Mamdani’s appearance

08:30 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump has insisted he’s “much better-looking” than New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

The 79-year-old president compared himself to the 33-year-old frontrunner and called him a “communist” during an appearance on CBS’s 60 Minutes Sunday as hundreds of thousands of early ballots were cast in the mayoral race.

Journalist Norah O’Donnell began to ask Trump about the race, describing Mamdani as a Democratic socialist, when the president interrupted: “Communist. Not socialist, communist. He’s far worse than a socialist.”

“Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that?” O’Donnell pressed.

The president replied: “Well, I think I'm a much better-looking person than him. Right?”

Read more from Kelly Rissman : Trump’s comments on Mamdani take a weird turn into appearance

When will New Yorkers find out who has won the NYC mayoral race?

08:12 , Owen Scott

The nailbiting final day of the race for New York Mayor is upon us, and millions of people living in and around the city are eager to know whether Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani or Curtis Sliwa will win the election.

So when will the results come out?

Polls will finally close at 9pm E.T, but all votes will need to be counted in order to ensure that the election is both free and fair.

During the last mayoral election, the count ended in Queens at 12:25 a.m. ET when 90% of the votes had come in and the winner had become clear.

Hopefully, that means New Yorkers will find out who their new mayor is this evening, although some vote counts have been known to take longer.

Watch: Curtis Sliwa responds to question about regrets if he loses NYC mayoral race to Mamdani

08:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa has responded to a question about regrets if he loses New York City’s mayoral race to Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

CNN’s Kasie Hunt asked Sliwa Monday afternoon, “If Mamdani’s elected and...he does run the city as a communist, are you going to have any regrets?”

“Why should I have regrets?” Sliwa said.

Mamdani identifies as a Democratic socialist, not a communist, as President Donald Trump has claimed.

What does Mamdani actually want to do, if elected mayor?

07:55 , Owen Scott

Donald Trump has continually claimed that Zohran Mamdani is a “communist” and a “radical.” But what does the mayoral candidate actually want to do if he wins?

Mamdani says that he wants to make New York City, which is one of the most expensive cities in the world, more affordable.

To do that, he wants to freeze rent on certain homes as well as bringing NYC’s corporate tax rate in line with New Jersey’s.

With the money he raises from that scheme, Mamdani plans to open government owned grocery stores and to make bus travel in the city free.

The Democratic candidate has also vowed to build more housing and warned Donald Trump that, if he wants to deploy the National Guard in New York, he will “have to get through me.”

‘She’s out’: Nancy Pelosi expected to quit politics after California votes on redistricting this week: report

07:30 , Rachel Dobkin

Some Democrats believe Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi may soon announce her retirement from politics, following a pivotal vote Tuesday in which voters in her home state of California cast their ballots on Proposition 50, an emergency redistricting proposal meant to counter a Trump-led effort in Texas to add more GOP seats to Congress.

Pelosi, who left House leadership in 2022, is expected to make an announcement about her political future after Tuesday’s vote, NBC News reports.

“I think she’s preparing to exit the stage,” a House Democratic leadership aide told the outlet. “We will not fully appreciate the time we have spent with her.”

“I wish she would stay for 10 more years,” a House Democrat added in an interview with NBC. “I think she’s out. She’s going to go out with Prop 50 overwhelmingly passing, and what a crowning achievement for her to do that.”

Read more from Josh Marcus : Nancy Pelosi may announce retirement after California redistricting vote: report

MAGA conspiracy theorist and Trump influencer Laura Loomer now credentialed to ‘cover’ the Pentagon after media purge: report

07:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Laura Loomer, a right-wing political influencer known for her Islamophobic positions and fierce online attacks on figures seen as insufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump, has reportedly been credentialed to cover the Pentagon.

Loomer’s alleged access to the Defense Department, first reported by The Washington Post , comes as virtually all mainstream news organizations in the Pentagon press corps turned in their badges last month rather than agree to a restrictive new Trump administration policy for covering the military.

The Independent has contacted the Pentagon and Loomer for comment.

The new media policy bans reporters from soliciting any information from military officials without prior authorization from the Pentagon, and nearly every American news organization – including Trump-friendly networks such as Fox News and Newsmax — has rejected it.

The Pentagon Press Association has called the policy an “unprecedented message of intimidation” that suggests it is “criminal to speak without express permission.”

Read more from Josh Marcus : Trump influencer Laura Loomer to ‘cover’ Pentagon after press purge: report

Watch: New York Democrat defends decision to endorse Andrew Cuomo

06:30 , Rachel Dobkin

Watch: Stephen Miller says New Yorkers need to 'unite' behind Cuomo

05:30 , Rachel Dobkin

White House official Stephen Miller has called on New Yorkers to “unite” behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo so he can beat Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in New York City’s mayoral race.

Watch: Mamdani reacts to Trump backing Cuomo

05:00 , Rachel Dobkin

In pictures: NYC mayoral candidates on eve of Election Day

04:30 , Rachel Dobkin

Andrew Cuomo clears up issue hours ahead of Election Day...he does not own O.J. Simpson's Bronco

04:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor as an independent, has cleared up an issue hours ahead of Election Day, telling voters he does not own O.J. Simpson's infamous Bronco.

Cuomo said people have claimed he has been driving the “OJ Bronco,” but he clarified in a video posted on X Monday night, “Actually, it’s not the OJ Branco.”

Simpson, a football star who was acquitted of the double murder of his ex-wife and her friend in the 1990s, was filmed on television speeding in a 1993 white Ford Bronco during a police chase.

After Simpson died at the age of 76 in April 2024, The New York Times reported his Bronco made it to the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

George Santos takes jab at NYC mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa

03:40 , Rachel Dobkin

Former Republican New York congressman George Santos has taken a jab at Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee in New York City’s mayoral race.

“I think Curtis is underestimating how hated he will become once [Zohran] Mamdani becomes mayor due to his selfishness,” Santos said of the Democratic nominee.

Santos, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in August 2024, was recently released from prison after President Donald Trump signed a sentence commutation.

Cuomo responds to Trump backing him in NYC mayoral race

03:20 , Rachel Dobkin

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has responded to President Donald Trump backing him in New York City’s mayoral race.

“He believes that [Zohran] Mamdani is an existential threat to New York,” Cuomo said, per CNN. “He believes he’s a communist. He believes he’ll bankrupt New York. So he opposes Mamdani. He doesn’t support me. It’s the opposition of Mamdani.”

Mamdani, who beat Cuomo during the Democratic primary, identifies as a Democratic socialist, not a communist.

Trump praises New Jersey Republican ahead of Election Day: 'A great guy'

03:00 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump has praised former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican choice in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, calling him a “great guy.”

Speaking at a tele-rally Monday night, Trump said, “You need to go out and vote for Jack Ciattarelli, who's a great guy, a friend of mine, a great guy, a very successful man, who wants to put all of his efforts now into really saving New Jersey, making it great again, saving it,” per NBC News.

New York Democrat defends decision to endorse Cuomo

02:40 , Rachel Dobkin

Democratic New York Congressman Tom Suozzi has defended his decision to endorse former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor over Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

“He's good at getting things done. Is he perfect? No, he's got flaws. Everybody's got flaws,” Suozzi told CNN Monday night. “But I think that when looking at the two candidates head to head, that Andrew Cuomo would be much better for New York City because he has the experience of operating a multi-billion dollar enterprise and getting things done in the complex environment of New York politics.”

Cuomo has been criticized over his past administration’s handling of nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic and sexual harassment allegations.

The ex-governor has denied the sexual harassment allegations and defended New York officials’ leadership during the pandemic.

Mamdani rebukes Trump after president backs Cuomo and threatens federal funds

02:20 , Rachel Dobkin

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City’s mayoral race, has rebuked Donald Trump after the president threw his support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and threatened federal funds if Mamdani won the election.

Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening, “If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!”

“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” he added.

In a CNN interview later that night, Mamdani said Trump was “threatened” by his campaign.

“Donald Trump is threatened by our campaign. He's threatened by it because, like his, we've diagnosed the crisis in working-class New Yorkers' lives, the cost of living, but unlike him, we're actually going to deliver on that.”

Responding to Trump threatening federal funds, Mamdani said, “ It's money that New York City is owed. It's not Donald Trump's to decide which city or state will get what money.”

Kash Patel releases images of suspect as he doubles down on claims FBI stopped ISIS-inspired Halloween attack

02:00 , Rachel Dobkin

FBI Director Kash Patel has shared images of a suspect in what the agency is calling a foiled ISIS-inspired Halloween attack.

Patel announced on X Friday morning that the FBI arrested multiple suspects in Michigan “who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend.”

Mohmed Ali, and an unnamed minor, both U.S. citizens from Dearborn, have been accused of planning a terror attack in the U.S. on behalf of ISIS, which is a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Along with Ali, Majed Mahmoud was named as a defendant in the case, with the criminal complaint accusing him and others of being co-conspirators in the alleged plot.

Read on... Images of suspect in foiled ‘ISIS-inspired Halloween attack’ revealed Majority of Americans believe a political candidate will be assassinated within 5 years, poll finds

01:40 , Rachel Dobkin

Americans are worried about a potential spike in political violence in the coming years, with majorities expecting such attacks to increase, while more than half of Americans told pollsters they expect a political candidate to get assassinated within the next five years.

Fears of rising violence are bipartisan, a new poll from Politico and Public First found, with 53 percent of 2024 Kamala Harris voters and 51 percent of Trump voters expecting an assassination soon.

Around 61 percent of recent Harris voters and 50 percent of recent Trump voters foresee a spike in violence overall.

The poll, taken after the September assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, reflects a national mood that’s both concerned about — and, to a degree, accepting of — political violence.

Read more from Josh Marcus : Most Americans think a political candidate will be assassinated within 5 years: poll

New York's Jewish community divided, anxious as city faces potential first Muslim mayor

01:20 , AP

New York City’s Jewish community — the largest in the United States — abounds with anxiety and friction a day ahead of an election that could give the city its first Muslim mayor.

That candidate, Zohran Mamdani, has won over many progressive Jewish voters with vows to make the city more affordable and equitable. Yet he has alarmed many other Jews — in New York and across the U.S. — with harsh criticism of Israel, including saying its military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide.

The tensions within the politically diverse community were illustrated Friday in a sermon by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, who leads Central Synagogue in Manhattan, one of the country's most prominent Reform synagogues.

She pointedly criticized Mamdani’s words about Israel, yet declined to endorse either of his opponents, Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, and pleaded for New York’s Jews to minimize virulent political infighting.

Read on... New York's Jewish community divided, anxious as city faces potential first Muslim mayor

Karl Rove gives his predictions for the key races this week - including one upset

01:10 , Rachel Dobkin

Veteran GOP strategist Karl Rove offered his predictions ahead of key elections across the U.S. on Tuesday — forecasting at least one surprise.

Speaking to Fox News, Rove zeroed in on the mayoral race in New York City and gubernatorial and down-ballot races in New Jersey and Virginia.

“If I were a betting man, I’d say New Jersey could be an upset,” the erstwhile advisor to former President George W. Bush said on November 1, according to Mediate .

In Virginia, he said Republicans will likely suffer minimal losses, while in New York, he said Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani would emerge victorious.

Read more from Brendan Rascius : Karl Rove gives his predictions for the key races this week - including one upset

Trump falls short of endorsing Virginia Republican at tele-rally

00:53 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump fell short of endorsing Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s gubernatorial race at a tele-rally Monday night.

Trump said Virginians should “vote for Republicans up and down the ballot” but did not endorse Earle-Sears by name, per the Associated Press.

Watch: New Jersey Democrat enlists Barack Obama to get out the vote

00:40 , Rachel Dobkin

Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for New Jersey governor, has shared the screen with former President Barack Obama, urging people on social media to vote on Election Day Tuesday.

Trump says voting for Democrats is a 'death wish' ahead of governor elections

00:13 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump has warned that voting for Democrats in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial elections is a “death wish.”

“Virginia and New Jersey, VOTE REPUBLICAN IF YOU WANT MASSIVE ENERGY COST AND CRIME REDUCTIONS. The Democrats will double and even triple your Energy Costs, and CRIME will be rampant. A vote for the Democrats is a DEATH WISH! VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.

Elon Musk urges New Yorkers to 'vote Cuomo'

00:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has urged New Yorkers to vote for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo instead of the Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani or the Republican Nominee Curtis Sliwa in the Big Apple’s mayoral race.

Mamdani not surprised by Trump backing Cuomo

Monday 3 November 2025 23:33 , Rachel Dobkin

Zohran Mamdani responded to President Donald Trump’s backing of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, saying he had known that would be the outcome “for months.”

“The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump’s understanding that this would be the best mayor for him — not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump and his administration,” Mamdani said at a campaign event in Queens, New York, on Monday, per The New York Times .

Trump urges voters in Virginia and New Jersey to vote Republican or they will 'rue the day'

Monday 3 November 2025 23:20 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump has urged voters in Virginia and New Jersey to vote Republican for governor, or they will “rue the day.”

“A vote for a Republican means substantially lower energy prices, a vote for a Democrat, especially these two losers who are running, means a doubling, tripling, and even quadrupling of your energy costs.

“It will not be sustainable, and you will rue the day that you voted to destroy your life!” Trump wrote in all caps Monday evening without providing any statistics to back up his claims.

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican, is facing off against former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in Virginia.

Former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli is the Republican choice in New Jersey, up against Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill.

Watch: Alina Habba issues stark warning to New Jersey voters

Monday 3 November 2025 22:55 , Rachel Dobkin

Alina Habba, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump and the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, has issued a stark warning to New Jersey voters ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.

“This office will investigate and prosecute any criminal activity related to the election process...and it will do so regardless of who commits those crimes and regardless of party or affiliation,” Habba said.

Trump says New Yorkers 'must vote' for Andrew Cuomo

Monday 3 November 2025 22:33 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump has told New Yorkers they “must vote” for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ahead of a nail-biting mayoral race in the Big Apple.

“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival! “ Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.

Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who beat Cuomo in the Democratic primary, has refuted claims that he is a communist.

“A vote for [Republican nominee] Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” Trump said.

Who is Jack Ciattarelli?

Monday 3 November 2025 22:15 , Ariana Baio

Jack Ciattarelli, a former New Jersey state legislator, has been endorsed by President Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for governor.

Ciattarelli, 63, started in local politics by serving on his borough’s town council then moving up to the county board of freeholders and eventually to the state assembly. His campaign for governor is his third iteration, having lost in the Republican primary in 2017 and the general election in 2021.

On the economy, Ciattarelli said he supports cutting corporate taxes, simplifying tax brackets to just three, with the highest capped at 5 percent and capping property taxes – policies that align largely with Republicans.

The Republican candidate supports abortion rights up to 20 weeks of gestation, with exceptions afterward in cases where the pregnant person’s life is in danger. He said he now supports same-sex marriage.

Ciattarelli has toed the line when it comes to Trump. He called Trump a “charlatan” in 2015 but supported the president in 2020 – even attending a “Stop the Steal” rally in New Jersey. He later said he did not know it was a “Stop the Steal” rally and called January 6, 2021, a “sad” day.

But Ciattarelli has moved closer to the MAGA Republicans, endorsing Trump in 2024 and claiming he would