NY governor hopeful vows showdown with Mamdani over socialist agenda: ‘I will stop him’
FIRST ON FOX: Republican gubernatorial candidate is vowing to stop New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's agenda if elected in November as the state's top leader. He warns that proposals...
By Fox News · Fox News
FIRST ON FOX: Republican gubernatorial candidate is vowing to stop New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's agenda if elected in November as the state's top leader. He warns that proposals like government-run grocery stores, tax hikes and expanded public spending would damage New York's economy and accelerate an exodus of businesses and residents. Bruce Blakeman is seeking to unseat Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in November. Asked how he would work with Mamdani if elected, the Republican candidate rejected the premise that he would be forced to accommodate the mayor's agenda. "First of all, let me be clear. I don't have to work with Zohran Mamdani. He has to work with me," Blakeman told Fox News Digital of potential relationship if he won state house. "When I become governor, I'm not going to let him destroy the fabric of New York City. I'm not going to let him destroy the economy of New York City, and I'm not going to let him make New York unsafe. Those are all things he's doing right now, and I will stop him." NY SOCIALIST SURGE COULD PUSH DEM VOTERS TO DEFECT, GOP GOVERNOR CANDIDATE PREDICTS The comments come as Mamdani's political rise has fueled a broader debate over the influence of far-left policies nationwide. Three socialist candidates also won races in Tuesday's New York primaries, adding to the attention surrounding the movement. In New York, Mamdani has championed proposals including city-owned grocery stores, free bus service and rent freezes, drawing praise from progressives and criticism from Republicans who argue the plans would expand government at the expense of taxpayers and small businesses. Blakeman singled out the mayor's proposal to establish city-owned grocery stores, arguing that government should not compete with family-owned businesses. "I don't want to compete with bodega owners and small grocery stores in New York. Government should not be competing with the private sector," Blakeman said. "Many of these businesses are family-owned bu…