Elon Musk Mocks Zohran Mamdani, Endorses Andrew Cuomo Amid Heated NYC Mayoral Race

Hours before New Yorkers headed to the polls on November 4, billionaire Elon Musk threw his support behind independent candidate Andrew Cuomo in the fiercely contested New York City mayoral race. Using his social media platform X, Musk urged voters not to split the anti-Zohran Mamdani vote, indirectly supporting Cuomo by warning that a vote for Republican Curtis Sliwa would aid Mamdani’s campaign—and in the process, Musk mockingly misspelled Mamdani’s name as “Mumdumi or whatever his name is”.​

The race features three main contenders: Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Democratic frontrunner; Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent following his loss in the Democratic primary; and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, has galvanized young and minority voters with his focus on affordable housing, free public transit, and childcare. Cuomo, the former governor of New York, stresses his experience and centrist approach.​

Musk’s tweet triggered backlash on social media, with critics condemning him for the deliberate misspelling of Mamdani's name—a move seen as racially insensitive by many. Supporters of Mamdani criticized the billionaire’s rhetoric as a cheap political shot, while his opponents praised Musk’s blunt anti-socialist stance. Some users joked that “Mumdumi” would become a trending hashtag ahead of the election.​

Also Read: "Threatened": Zohran Mamdani Attributes Trump's Attacks to Insecurity

This endorsement came shortly after former US President Donald Trump also endorsed Cuomo, branding Mamdani a “communist” and warning of economic and social disaster should Mamdani win. Both men framed the election as a contest between socialism and experience, urging voters to back Cuomo to prevent Mamdani’s victory.​

The New York City Board of Elections reported that over 735,000 early ballots had been cast by the time of Musk’s intervention, with polls showing Mamdani retaining a slim lead. The endorsement battle reflects the polarized atmosphere surrounding this high-profile race, which could have significant implications for the city’s political and social trajectory.​

Also Read: Trump Calls Mamdani a ‘Communist,’ Warns of Funding Cuts as NYC Vote Nears