Ramaswamy: "NYC facing dire consequences if Zohran Mamdani wins"
Vivek Ramaswamy warns that Zohran Mamdani’s rise in New York City politics could signal a national shift toward socialism and racial division. Through op-eds, social media, and a high-profile billboard campaign, Ramaswamy frames Mamdani’s candidacy as a threat to NYC’s entrepreneurial spirit and a test for America’s ideological future.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-American entrepreneur, former 2024 Republican presidential candidate, and current contender for Ohio governor in 2026, has issued dramatic and fierce warnings about the potential election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor.
In a series of social media posts, an op-ed, and a high-profile advertising campaign, Ramaswamy argues that Mamdani's "anti-capitalist worldview" and socialist policies could trigger a "citywide identity crisis," erasing NYC's historic identity as a beacon of ambition and success. While his critiques focus primarily on local impacts, Ramaswamy frames the issue with national implications, suggesting that Mamdani's victory would validate divisive racial politics on the left, deepen ideological rifts across the U.S., and accelerate the decline of major cities, potentially harming the broader American economy and spirit.
Background on the Warning
Ramaswamy's comments escalated in mid-July 2025, following Mamdani's strong showing in the Democratic primary for NYC mayor, where he overtook figures like former Governor Andrew Cuomo in pre-primary polls. On July 16, 2025, Ramaswamy posted on X (formerly Twitter): "I moved to NYC after I graduated college in 2007 because it was a place that still celebrated success, but that spirit receded in New York & soon could be gone altogether due to Mamdani. We're reviving that American Dream in a new place: Ohio." He warned that if "a guy like this becomes mayor… the identity of New York City as we know it will be erased," calling Mamdani's potential win the "death knell" for the city's entrepreneurial ethos.
To spread his message, a $50,000 digital billboard funded by Ramaswamy's super PAC ("VPAC: Victors, not Victims") appeared in Times Square, urging New Yorkers to "flee" Mamdani's "radical socialist" policies and move to Ohio. The ad contrasted Mamdani's image with Ramaswamy's, promoting Ohio as a haven for "freedom" and economic opportunity. Ramaswamy's PAC strategist, Andy Surabian, described the two politicians as representing "wildly different paths for the future of our nation," pitting "socialist totalitarianism" against "American freedom."
In a July 13, 2025, op-ed for the New York Post titled "Resist the racist left’s Mamdani trap," Ramaswamy elaborated: "The real problem with Mamdani isn’t his race or religion. It’s his anti-capitalist worldview and his policies that risk destroying our nation’s largest city." He accused Mamdani of supporting policies like higher taxes on "whiter neighborhoods," race-based reparations, and "seizing the means of production," which could bankrupt NYC and exacerbate its housing shortage. Ramaswamy urged conservatives to "fight his ideas, not his ethnicity," warning that racial attacks play into the left's "trap" and validate their divisive worldview.
Who Is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Kwame Mamdani, 33, is a Ugandan-born, Indian-American Muslim and New York State Assembly member representing Queens. The son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, he is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has gained prominence for his progressive stances, including defunding the police, supporting "queer liberation," launching city-owned grocery stores for lower prices, and advocating for Medicare for All and student debt cancellation. He has been endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), fueling speculation about her own future ambitions, such as a 2028 presidential run. Mamdani's campaign has gone viral on platforms like TikTok, and he leads in polls ahead of the November 2025 general election.
Critics, including Ramaswamy, label him a "radical socialist" or "communist," citing his 2021 call to "seize the means of production." Mamdani has faced racial backlash, such as mockery over a video of him eating rice with his hands, which Ramaswamy condemned as part of a broader "race-obsessed" fringe on both sides.
National Implications and Broader Reactions
Ramaswamy ties Mamdani's potential win to national stakes, arguing it risks "destroying our nation’s largest city" and setting a precedent for anti-capitalist policies nationwide. He warns that conservatives falling into racial grievances "validates the left’s worldview" and divides the country, undermining unity based on "meritocracy, free speech, and open debate." Echoing this, Donald Trump Jr. predicted a mass exodus of wealthy taxpayers to Florida if Mamdani wins, calling it a "scary notion" that could force NYC to "fail to come back." President Trump labeled Mamdani a "communist," saying NYC "can never be the same."
Democrats are split; some see lessons in Mamdani's rise for national politics, while others worry about a reckoning. Conservative swimmer Riley Gaines called NYC "screwed" over Mamdani's past posts, prompting Ramaswamy to again suggest moving to Ohio. The race remains heated, with Mamdani favored in the Democratic stronghold, and it's getting more and more likely that he will be New York's next mayor.
G-d save us all.