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Cuomo responds to Mamdani photo controversy
New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism for photos taken over the summer when he visited Uganda. FOX 5 NY’s Robert Moses has the latest details.
NEW YORK CITY - New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism for photos taken over the summer when he visited his native Uganda.
The backstory:
Mamdani took the photos back in July with a top Ugandan official, First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga. According to the New York Post, Kadaga was a key proponent of a law making consensual homosexual relationships in Uganda punishable by life in prison.
What they're saying:
Mamdani's spokeswoman tells the Post that he was waiting to board his plane back to New York City when Kadaga asked him to pose for the pictures.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 03: New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani delivers a speech during a press briefing with Rep. Jerrold Nadler and other local representatives after White House decides to freeze $18 billion in New York infras …
"If he was aware she was the architect of this horrific attack on queer Ugandans, he would not have done so," Mamdani spokeswoman, Dora Pekec, said.
The other side:
In a statement, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, in part: "How does a self-proclaimed progressive candidate for mayor of New York City – the birthplace of Stonewall, the city that led the fight for equality – find himself beside one of the most notorious anti-LGBTQ figures on the planet. And how does he maintain dual citizenship in a country that criminalizes people simply for who they love?"
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: New York mayoral candidate, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo attends the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum on September 11, 2025 in New York City. Government officials joined family …
Cuomo continued: "Zohran Mamdani has shown one quality time and again: duplicity. And as we've learned, if he's smiling, he's lying."
When is Election Day in NYC? Timeline, key dates
- Saturday, Oct. 25: Application for voter registration must be received no later than Oct. 25.
- Saturday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 2: The early voting period. Early voting hours vary.
- Tuesday, Nov. 4: Primary Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate for mayor of New York City, speaks at a press event at City Hall on September 30, 2025, in New York City. After the current mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race, there is g …
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Who's ahead? Polls in the NYC mayor's race
- (Fox News Sept. 18-22) A new survey of New York City registered voters found Mamdani leading the race by 18 percentage points with 45% support. Cuomo followed with 27%, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa with 11% and current New York City Mayor Eric Adams with 8%.
NYC election news today
- Zohran Mamdani Has Ambitious Plans. How Much Will They Cost? (The New York Times)
- Ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo frames NYC mayoral race as battle for Democratic Party’s soul (Washington Times)
How to track election results
Bookmark FOX 5 NY's election results page to track results in real time when polls close on Tuesday, June 24.