Overview

• Trump repeated that he could withhold federal money from New York and even deploy federal forces if Zohran Mamdani becomes mayor, a threat legal experts note faces congressional and statutory limits.
• Hochul appeared with Mamdani for the first time since endorsing him, vowed to “fight like hell” against any federal funding freeze, and said talks on universal childcare are underway though financing remains unresolved.
• Mamdani continues to lead the three-way race over Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll, with early voting set to begin Oct. 25 before the Nov. 4 election.
• Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams escalated his criticism of Mamdani’s agenda and is considering endorsing Cuomo, according to CBS News New York, while arguing the frontrunner would take the city “backwards.”
• Mamdani secured support from Black clergy including Bishop Orlando Findlayter, as Cuomo casts establishment pressure from the left and Sliwa argues he alone can consolidate anti-Mamdani voters.