By: Russ Spencer

The battle for New York City’s mayoralty entered an incendiary new phase this weekend after Andrew M. Cuomo, the former governor turned independent mayoral candidate, leveled a direct and stinging challenge against his rival, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

Cuomo’s demand came on the heels of explosive reporting in The New York Post, which detailed how the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)—a far-left organization with which Mamdani is closely aligned—has allegedly dictated his political positions, campaign strategy, and voting record for years.

“Today’s New York Post story confirms what we’ve said all along: Zohran Mamdani doesn’t work for the people of New York, he works for the Democratic Socialists of America,” Cuomo declared in a statement Saturday morning. “According to DSA leaders, for years they have told him how to vote, written his platform, and now they openly brag that if he’s elected Mayor, he’ll follow their orders. That is not democracy, that is a shadow government.”

Cuomo’s blistering remarks underscore a central theme of his insurgent campaign: the argument that Mamdani, a self-described socialist and current Assemblyman from Queens, represents not independent leadership but a radical faction intent on reshaping the city through ideological dictates.

The Post’s investigation, published Friday, unearthed internal DSA communications and testimony from local leaders claiming that Mamdani has long submitted to the organization’s will. Sources alleged that weekly meetings between Mamdani and DSA officials served as strategy sessions where his legislative votes, talking points, and campaign posture were scripted.

Perhaps most alarming for moderates and independents, DSA leaders reportedly boasted that if Mamdani were to win City Hall, he would continue to “follow the will of the membership.” In effect, they suggested, a Mamdani administration would be indistinguishable from a DSA-run municipal government.

The revelations jolted a campaign already polarized by debates over policing, housing, taxation, and education. For Cuomo, the report provided ammunition to sharpen his case that Mamdani is less a public servant than a figurehead for a radical political club.

In his Saturday statement, Cuomo outlined ten pointed questions that he argued Mamdani must answer before voters head to the polls. Each was designed to test Mamdani’s independence and expose the degree of his allegiance to the DSA.

Who’s really in charge: you or the DSA? Cuomo cited reports of weekly meetings where the DSA dictated Mamdani’s votes. Would they also dictate City Hall?

What does “following the will of the membership” mean? Does Mamdani reject this characterization, or will he permit the DSA to dictate city government policy?

Why are you hiding your true platform? Mamdani has said policies not listed on his website are not part of his agenda. Cuomo pressed: what policies are being hidden because voters might reject them?

Do you embrace the DSA platform? As a dues-paying member who contributes to both local and national DSA chapters, which positions does Mamdani reject—if any?

Are you just using the Democratic Party? At internal meetings, DSA officials disparaged the Democratic Party, claiming they only use its ballot line for access. Is Mamdani complicit in that strategy?

Name three times you defied the DSA. If he is independent, Cuomo demanded concrete examples of when Mamdani broke with the organization on major issues.

When New Yorkers’ needs conflict with DSA dogma, who wins? For example, if the city needs more police officers but the DSA demands abolition, whose side would Mamdani take?

Is it appropriate for an outside political club to hold weekly meetings with the Mayor? Would City Hall effectively become an extension of the DSA?

Will you put New Yorkers above the DSA? Would Mamdani resign his membership and commit publicly to putting the interests of constituents first?

Why does the DSA claim credit for your win? The group has asserted ownership of his political rise. Does Mamdani agree?

Cuomo punctuated his challenge with a warning: “Zohran Mamdani has serious questions to answer before this election, which is exactly why he runs and hides every chance he gets. New Yorkers deserve to know whether they will be electing a Mayor or a figurehead for the DSA.”

As of Saturday evening, Mamdani’s campaign had not issued a formal response to Cuomo’s demands. Past statements suggest he views his DSA affiliation as a point of pride rather than a liability. He has frequently described himself as a “movement candidate” and argued that following the will of grassroots membership ensures accountability to ordinary people, not corporate donors or political elites.

Yet Mamdani has also dodged questions about whether he would prioritize New Yorkers’ needs if they diverged from DSA doctrine. His critics have seized on that ambiguity as evidence of evasiveness.

The Democratic Socialists of America have grown in strength in New York politics over the past decade, riding a wave of progressive activism. They count among their members prominent figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a growing bloc of state legislators.