On the latest episode of “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver spotlighted Zohran Mamdani’s historic win in the New York City mayoral race and offered pointed critiques of Mamdani’s opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani, at 34, became the city’s first Muslim and Asian American mayor after defeating Cuomo, who ran as an independent following a contentious primary.
John Oliver Praises Mamdani, Takes Aim at Cuomo
John Oliver lauded Mamdani’s ability to withstand what he described as “one of the most Islamophobic campaigns” in recent memory, noting that the new mayor captured 50.4% of the vote against Cuomo’s 41.6%. The comedian highlighted Mamdani’s measured victory speech, praising its grace as Mamdani wished Cuomo “only the best in private life,” and noted that critics had accused the mayor-elect’s remarks of being unusually sharp. Oliver countered, “That seems deeply unfair to me,” emphasizing the adversity Mamdani faced throughout the campaign.
Campaign Tensions and New York’s Political Shift
During the race, Mamdani confronted Cuomo’s controversial comments, old-school political tactics, and campaign ads that drew widespread criticism—including bizarre AI-generated content. Oliver joked about Cuomo’s inability to pronounce Mamdani’s name and called out the former governor’s divisive strategies, drawing laughter and applause as he celebrated the arrival of a more inclusive city leadership.
Mamdani’s win signals a shift in New York City politics, with Oliver and other commentators noting the generational and ideological change now underway. Observers expect Mamdani’s mayoralty to be closely watched, both for his progressive policies and for the pathbreaking nature of his coalition.