Gambiaj.com – (New York City, U.S.A.) – As New Yorkers vote today in a charged mayoral race to succeed Eric Adams, international human rights lawyer and former New York State Assistant Attorney General Reed Brody says the election is about far more than who leads the city, it’s a test of whether Americans are ready to stand up to what he calls “Donald Trump’s erosion of democracy.”
The race pits Democrat Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa against each other. Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman and Democratic socialist, cast his own ballot in Queens under the Working Families Party line earlier in the day—a symbolic move that underscores his progressive base.
Speaking to France 24, Brody said the issues shaping Mamdani’s campaign, affordability, working-class empowerment, and taxing the city’s wealthiest, resonate deeply in a city where the cost of living continues to soar.
“New York has, I believe, the second highest cost of living in the world after Singapore. Many people are leaving because they are priced out,” Brody noted. “For many, this election is the first chance they have to stand up for democracy—and Mamdani is seen as the candidate who will do that.”
Brody placed the contest in a national context, sharply criticizing President Donald Trump, whom he accused of “trampling on the Constitution” and “obliterating checks and balances.” He pointed to federal crackdowns in New York and other Democratic strongholds as evidence of a president “using every lever of power to destroy those who don’t agree with him.”
“We need more governments and institutions willing to stand up to Donald Trump,” Brody said. “New York may need that backbone now more than ever.”
Mamdani’s progressive platform has drawn both admiration and alarm. Trump recently branded him a “communist,” while opponents have launched a flurry of attack ads labeling him a “terrorist” and linking him to 9/11 – claims Brody dismissed as “corporate-funded fearmongering.”
“These ads take millions in contributions,” Brody said. “A lot of the Democratic establishment is beholden to those same corporate interests. If the party wants to win again nationally, it has to be a big tent, one that embraces a Muslim democratic socialist in New York, a farmer in the Midwest, and tech entrepreneurs on the West Coast.”
Questions over Mamdani’s religion and identity have also stirred tensions within the city’s large Jewish community. Critics have accused him of being anti-Israel or even anti-Semitic—an assertion Brody, who is Jewish, firmly rejected.
“It’s not Mamdani who’s dividing the Jewish community; it’s the state of Israel,” Brody said. “He has many Jewish supporters and endorsements from leaders like Comptroller Brad Lander. The attempts to portray him as anti-Semitic are a red herring.”
Brody warned that a Mamdani victory could trigger retaliation from Trump, citing previous funding cuts to Democratic-led cities and universities. “Trump has shown a willingness to use power vindictively. If Mamdani wins, it could get difficult, but that’s precisely why standing firm is so important,” he argued.
He also drew parallels between the New York mayoral race and other key state elections taking place in New Jersey, Virginia, and California—each of which, he said, reflects how Americans are responding to growing economic inequality and democratic backsliding.
“The top 0.01% of Americans have become $700 billion richer since Trump took office,” Brody said. “Meanwhile, food stamps are being cut, and the poorest are suffering. These elections are about whether the U.S. can still deliver justice and equality—or whether power will remain concentrated in the hands of a few.”
As polls close, New Yorkers await results that could not only shape their city’s future but also signal the national mood heading into next year’s midterms.
