Reps. Mike Lawler, left, and Nicole Malliotakis are both arguing that Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign is bad for the city. (Getty Images)
Now, however, Republicans are seeing potential for their own party to grow in the largely Democratic stronghold – if the self-proclaimed democratic socialist continues to be as divisive for voters as he has been since hitting the national political stage.
"No question – I mean, he will make Bill de Blasio look competent," Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who is considering a potential gubernatorial bid in New York, told Fox News Digital when asked if Mamdani would boost Republicans.
Lawler called on his fellow New Yorkers in the House Democratic Caucus to publicly declare where they stand on Mamdani.
"Frankly, for Democrats, this is a time for choosing. Do they align themselves with a radical socialist who engages in antisemitism, hates the police, believes that illegal immigrants should have free everything, and you know, is basically going to destroy the finances of New York City?" Lawler posed. "They can't have it both ways."
It is a question Democrats have been wrestling with.
Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican, said he was concerned Zohran Mamdani's policies could have negative ripple effects on the Long Island suburbs he represents. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Mamdani's campaign platform includes freezing rent prices for rent-controlled apartments, creating city-owned and operated grocery stores, and eliminating fares for city bus rides.
A progressive questionnaire from 2022 shows that while running for the state assembly, he endorsed legalizing sex work and passing legislation "to limit local police cooperation and information sharing with federal immigration authorities, and prohibiting local police from assisting in deportation enforcement."
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De Blasio, for his part, told "Fox News @ Night" on Wednesday that he believes concerns about Mamdani are overblown.
"These are not staggering ideas. If he wants to tax the wealthy, he has to get the approval of the legislature. They may or may not give it," he said. "I just think there’s a lot of exaggeration here. And we’re not going to see people leaving in droves."
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's campaign for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to de Blasio for comment via his website.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-republicans-warn-disaster-dangerous-zohran-mamdani-wins-mayoral-race