By: Fern Sidman

The political landscape in New York City took a dramatic turn this week as Fox News host Sean Hannity issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s rise to prominence in the city’s mayoral race. According to a report that appeared on Sunday in The New York Post, Hannity predicted nothing short of a “mass exodus” from the Empire State should Mamdani succeed in his bid for mayor in November — a scenario he believes could trigger a significant economic and demographic shift southward, particularly to Florida.

Hannity, 63, who relocated from New York to Florida earlier this year, made his comments during an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” hosted by his fiancée, Ainsley Earhardt. As reported by The New York Post, Hannity’s remarks tied into a broader discussion about the Democratic Party’s faltering national approval ratings. Citing a Quinnipiac University poll, Hannity highlighted that 72% of voters expressed disapproval of Democrats in Congress — a sentiment echoed by 62% disapproval for congressional Republicans, signaling widespread voter dissatisfaction across the political spectrum.

In that context, Hannity criticized the Democratic Party’s current crop of high-profile figures, singling out progressive leaders such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez before turning his focus squarely on Mamdani. Hannity argued that Mamdani’s policies could accelerate an existing trend of companies and individuals leaving New York in search of more favorable economic conditions elsewhere.

“If they want to go with Mamdani as the Mayor of New York City, I invite you all to come and broadcast your show as I do, originate your show in the free state of Florida,” Hannity said on air, as quoted by The New York Post. “Because there is going to be a mass exodus out of the state of New York the likes of which we have never seen.”

Hannity’s prediction rests on the belief that Mamdani’s platform — which embraces progressive taxation, expanded social programs, and regulation-heavy economic policies — would drive businesses away. He suggested that companies, particularly financial institutions, have already begun shifting operations to Florida, a movement that The New York Post referred to as the rise of “Wall Street South.”

“What a lot of people don’t know—and it’s a pretty fascinating phenomenon—is that Wall Street South is already here,” Hannity continued. “All these companies, they don’t just have offices in Southern Florida, no, they’ve got half their companies down here now. The reason is because of burdensome regulation, high taxes, they’ve chased them out. And they’re just going to pick up and leave completely now.”

Hannity’s remarks also addressed the political dynamics of the mayoral race itself. Despite Mamdani’s strong showing in the Democratic primary, Hannity suggested that the field remains volatile. He urged viewers not to dismiss Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, arguing that a split among left-leaning candidates — including independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, and former federal prosecutor Jim Walden — could leave an opening for a Republican upset.

“So, Mamdani’s numbers have been going down. It looked like it might have been a slam dunk in the beginning—I’m not so sure,” Hannity observed. “Cuomo is definitely leading in terms of coming into second place. But you’ve got three leftists on the ticket besides Mamdani, and, sorry, Eric Adams is not polling particularly well, [although] I know there’s going to be a lot of money thrown in his direction.”

Hannity then added: “But if all three of them stay in the race and Mamdani stays in the race, I do believe—it’s an outside shot—but it does create a lane for Curtis Sliwa, who has been a longtime friend of mine. He really is Mr. New York, he loves New York City.”

Hannity’s endorsement of Sliwa, whom he described as “Giuliani 2.0,” was a nod to the former mayor Rudy Giuliani, who led the city during the 1990s. As noted in The New York Post report, Hannity emphasized that while Sliwa faces significant challenges in a predominantly Democratic city, a fractured left-wing vote could make a Republican victory conceivable.

The conversation on “Fox & Friends” soon turned to a critique of Mamdani’s platform, with Hannity and Earhardt characterizing his policies as “socialist” and “Marxist.” Hannity dismissed them as “madness” and “insanity,” terms frequently used when quoting critics of Mamdani’s platform.

However, even as Hannity predicted a mass exodus, real estate experts have cautioned against making hasty forecasts. Speaking with Realtor.com®, luxury real estate broker Donna Olshan offered a more measured perspective. The Post reported that Olshan acknowledged that some clients expressed concern following Mamdani’s primary win but suggested that it’s premature to expect a widespread departure of wealthy residents.

“It’s way too early to see how this will affect the luxury market in Manhattan,” Olshan told Realtor.com®, according to the report in The New York Post. “Have I gotten nervous calls? Yes, but at the end of the day, most people are not going to pick up roots and move somewhere else because they don’t like the mayor and are afraid of the direction the city will go in.”

Nevertheless, the political uncertainty has already begun to impact the real estate market in subtle ways. Olshan’s account of a buyer who submitted a lowball offer on a Manhattan apartment shortly after Mamdani’s primary victory, in hopes of capitalizing on fears of a so-called “Mamdani discount.”

“I thought this was ironic,” Olshan added, as quoted by The New York Post. “They were perfectly happy to live in New York City—even with Mamdani—if they could get a discount on an apartment.”

Beyond individual transactions, demographic trends suggest that New Yorkers considering relocation are increasingly looking closer to home rather than making long-distance moves to states like Florida. According to Realtor.com® senior economist Joel Berner, cited by The New York Post, many city residents are seeking alternatives within the metropolitan area, particularly in suburban areas like Suffolk and Nassau counties.

“It appears that more Manhattan residents are interested in staying within the New York City metro, but outside the city proper,” Berner said.

Still, Hannity’s warnings have tapped into genuine anxieties about New York’s future economic health. The Fox News host’s assertion that burdensome regulations and high taxes have already driven business south resonates with a segment of New Yorkers wary of the city’s political and fiscal direction.

The phenomenon of financial firms establishing a presence in Florida is not new, but Hannity’s commentary suggests that a Mamdani victory could serve as a tipping point for more companies to move operations entirely.

With November approaching, Mamdani’s campaign remains a focal point of political discourse, and the questions raised by prominent media figures such as Hannity — regarding taxation, regulation, and New York’s business climate — are likely to dominate conversations among voters, business leaders, and policymakers alike.

Whether Hannity’s prediction of a “mass exodus” proves accurate remains to be seen. Yet, as The New York Post report indicated, the political winds in New York City are shifting, and the outcome of this election could mark a significant inflection point for the city’s trajectory in the years to come.