Following Zohran Mamdani’s erstwhile advice to visit more mosques, independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo stopped by a Bronx mosque Saturday to speak with community members about various issues — one day after being heckled at a mosque in Queens over his support for Israel.
The issues included a pitch for a proposed Arabic charter school, touching on an issue that has become a source of controversy in recent days.
After visiting Masjid Ansarudeen Islamic Center in the Bronx, Cuomo was praised for his “message of unity” and efforts to combat Islamophobia by Sheik Ibrahim Niass, who said Cuomo was “welcome any time,” in a statement shared by Cuomo on X.
Andrew Cuomo visits Masjid Ansarudeen Islamic Center in the Bronx on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Andrew Cuomo campaign for Governor)
“In particular, his willingness to support our efforts for an Arabic charter school is welcomed news,” Niass said.
Mamdani has leveled criticism at the charter school movement, saying charter schools, which are publicly funded but operated independently of the local school system, “siphon resources away from public education, often without real accountability or oversight.”
“He receives a welcome reception wherever he goes. Yesterday was a campaign stunt,” said Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi. Azzopardi had dismissed the hecklers at the Queens mosque on Friday as “a couple of Mamdani agents,” saying they were not representative of the opinions of the larger Muslim community.
The Mamdani camp has said it was not behind the vocal criticism leveled at Cuomo Friday.
“It’s gonna take more than that to scare Andrew Cuomo, and we were right there today,” Azzopardi said.
In other campaign news, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) endorsed Mamdani on Saturday as the party nominee and front-runner grabbed another backer from the party.
“Assemblyman Mamdani’s historic primary victory in June proved the effectiveness of a people-powered campaign, that centers the issues that matter to most New Yorkers: lowering the cost of living, making the billionaire class pay their share and securing equity for all communities,” Clarke said.
Originally Published: September 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM EDT
