The Gray Lady ties itself up in knots over Mamdani

America’s leading newspaper, the New York Times, has managed to tie itself in knots over its stance on the Democratic candidate to be the New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani. During the primary – the race to select which person will be the Democratic nominee – Mamdani emerged as a frontrunner in the contest as well as a standard-bearer for the left, with policies including rent stabilisation, publicly-owned grocery shops and free buses.

Mamdani was facing off against former governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace in 2021 after allegations of sexual harassment from at least 11 women. Despite this deeply tarnished track record, Cuomo was standing on a platform of experience and political moderation, and the two men were the frontrunners in the contest.

The New York Times had adopted a somewhat confusing policy of no longer endorsing any candidates in local or statewide races, despite having done so for decades. But having made this policy, it then decided to break it when faced with the prospect of Mamdani achieving political power.

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In a confused and confusing non-endorsement endorsement, the Gray Lady’s editorial board grudgingly backed Cuomo. “We do not believe that Mr Mamdani deserves a spot on New Yorkers’ ballots,” the board concluded. “As for Mr Cuomo, we have serious objections to his ethics and conduct, even if he would be better for New York’s future than Mr Mamdani.”

Mamdani went on to decisively win the Democratic primary contest, but Cuomo has remained in the race as an independent. Readers are left trying to work out what on earth could have driven the newspaper to back a candidate who it called on to resign as governor just four years ago.

Perhaps one explanation is in dynastic politics. In a petulant post on X just days ago, Cuomo reminded the public of his nepo baby status, as the son and grandson of New York governors. “In case you forgot, I’m Andrew Cuomo, son of Mario, grandson of Andrea,” he posted. “Welcome to the heavyweight bout, @ZohranKMamdani.”

Most online reaction to the post was outright ridicule, but perhaps it landed differently in the boardroom of the New York Times, where publisher and chairman A G Sulzberger reins, having taken the job from his father, thanks to his family’s control of the newspaper since 1896.