Cuomo Gains on Mamdani as Viral Videos Shift NYC Race

NEW YORK — The campaign for Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo has launched a series of viral social-media videos targeting Zohran Mamdani, the socialist candidate in New York City’s upcoming mayoral election. Produced by Fat Camp Films CEO Zach Sage Fox, these clips have attracted millions of views and, according to Fox, coincided with a tightening of polling margins as the Nov. 4 election approaches.

Viral Videos Gain Traction

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, Cuomo’s campaign has ramped up its online outreach. Fox – a University of Pennsylvania alumnus with a degree in political communications who has worked with brands like Coca-Cola and Airbnb – was hired after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams withdrew from the race. He produced about a half-dozen high-impact videos (one contract called for 8–10 clips) intended to engage younger voters and highlight doubts about Mamdani’s résumé and ideology. Fox says the timing of these videos “directly” aligned with a shift in polling: a New York Post-cited AtlasIntel poll from Oct. 31 showed Mamdani ahead by 6.6 points, but Fox told Fox News Digital that the lead “started tightening” once the campaign’s social media was revamped.

One flagship video, titled “Would You Hire Zohran?”, features Fox walking into small New York businesses carrying a cutout of Mamdani’s face and a printout résumé. He asks proprietors if they would hire the socialist candidate. That video alone has racked up over 5 million views. Business owners’ on-camera reactions were telling, Fox says. In the footage, a $1 pizza shop owner, a gym (Equinox) manager, and others visibly balked at Mamdani’s credentials – which list only brief internships and a past as an amateur rapper. “All those reactions you saw were real,” Fox told Fox News Digital, noting that even the pizza shop said, “Oh, I would not hire somebody with this resume. What? He interned for his mom and was a rapper? He can’t work here.”. He further joked, “McDonald’s wouldn’t hire him, but we might make this guy mayor.” The quick-witted editing and candid responses underscored a key point for the campaign: critics argue Mamdani has limited executive experience and hasn’t managed large teams – he has “no, no, no skills to run 300,000 plus jobs,” Fox quipped, referring to the roughly 300,000 city government positions.

Fox’s team didn’t stop there. Another clip, “Muslims Against Mamdani,” shows a group of Muslim New Yorkers seated at a table, inviting passersby to ask why they will not support Mamdani. That video became even more viral, amassing over 10 million views. In a creative twist, Fox parodied the Schoolhouse Rock cartoon “I’m Just a Bill” with a video titled “I’m Just a Shill,” which pokes fun at Mamdani. This parody reportedly secured over 15 million views in a single day.

Taken together, these videos have drawn widespread attention and debate, both online and offline. Fox says he is encouraged by the response: “I feel good about it,” he told Fox News Digital. He believes Mamdani now has “a much better shot at winning this than when we came on to the campaign”. “If it's enough of a shot, we will see,” he added, acknowledging that many factors still affect the outcome.

Race Context and Campaign Players

The 2025 New York City mayoral contest grew unpredictable after several key developments. In September, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams unexpectedly withdrew from the race, opening the field. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo – a Democrat until he declared himself an Independent in 2021 – then entered the race as an independent candidate, despite his controversial recent history. Cuomo’s entry quickly split the more moderate vote, positioning him directly against Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old progressive voice, first gained prominence as a Democratic Socialist member of the New York State Assembly. He surprised many political observers by winning the Democratic primary over more established contenders earlier this year. Fox noted that Mamdani’s primary victory was “a shocker” and expressed dismay as previously private aspects of Mamdani’s background emerged. Cuomo now faces Mamdani in the general election (as well as Republican Curtis Sliwa, a former radio host who secured his party’s nomination). Fox said he would have aligned with “Cuomo, Adams or Republican NYC mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa” in order to stop Mamdani, underscoring how far Mamdani’s backers have shifted the political conversation.

In this dynamic field, campaign messaging has become crucial. The Cuomo campaign’s strategy of pushing viral, easily sharable content is a new twist on digital campaign tactics. Fox’s firm, Fat Camp Films, was brought in to produce roughly 8–10 videos for the campaign. (Fox’s team has a background in trending online content: Fox previously worked on social-media projects for corporations and nonprofits, and he personally collaborated with brands like Coca-Cola and Airbnb.) The goal has been to reach voters who might not be engaged through traditional media – especially younger voters active on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

At the same time, Mamdani’s own team has defended his resume and addressed criticism of his policy stances. Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist and has pushed for affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and other progressive initiatives. His campaign says he has street-level experience and a track record as a neighborhood leader. Still, opponents have seized on any perceived weaknesses, from his limited executive experience to controversial statements in his past (such as rap lyrics mentioning the “Holy Land Five” – a reference Mamdani has said was meant to highlight victims of what he viewed as injustices, though critics see it differently).

Meanwhile, other campaigns have not stayed quiet. The current mayor Adams, though out of the race, proposed adding 5,000 new NYPD officers over three years to address crime, pointing to a contrast with Mamdani’s earlier remark that defunding the police was necessary (a proposal Mamdani’s team says was outdated). Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has emphasized law-and-order themes. Thus the Cuomo-Fox videos enter an already charged environment of attack ads and counter-ads as election day nears.

Campaign Consultant’s Remarks

Zach Fox, the producer behind these videos, has spoken candidly about their creation and impact. He told Fox News Digital that every surprised reaction in the business-interview video was authentic. Highlighting one memorable exchange, Fox quoted a pizza shop owner as saying Mamdani’s credentials would not qualify him for the job. Fox took that absurdity in stride: “McDonald’s wouldn't hire him, but we might make this guy mayor,” he joked, underscoring the contrast between everyday job requirements and mayoral responsibilities. He also noted that Mamdani “hasn’t run anything with more than five or six people,” pointing out the gap between Mamdani’s experience and the scale of managing New York City’s 300,000 employees.

Beyond local businesses, Fox addressed broader concerns about Mamdani’s public image. In one of his videos, Fox presented a table of New York City Muslims who said they would not support Mamdani; Fox credited this clip with sparking conversation, and it received over 10 million views. He also highlighted Mamdani’s use of rap lyrics as evidence of his worldview. Fox noted that Mamdani once rapped “Shout out to the Holy Land Five” – a reference to a group labeled terrorists – and pointed out that Mamdani has not publicly condemned Hamas. “These are his heroes. Those are terrorists,” Fox stated. “Hamas is a terrorist group. He would not denounce Hamas. This guy is sympathetic to terrorists... That’s absolutely terrifying.”

Fox’s comments make clear the campaign’s message strategy: to portray Mamdani as dangerously untested and extreme on security issues. He said he is “not worried about having a Muslim mayor” per se, but about “an antisemitic, pro-terror mayor,” based on Mamdani’s past remarks. These statements – voiced by one of Cuomo’s key advisers – have drawn sharp criticism from Mamdani and his supporters, who accuse Fox and the Cuomo campaign of fear-mongering. Nonetheless, Fox remains confident: “I feel he has a much better shot at winning this than when we came on to the campaign,” he told Fox News Digital, as the revamped social-media approach reached wider audiences.

Risks & Scenarios

• Law Enforcement and Public Safety: Mamdani’s earlier advocacy for police budget cuts (“defunding” the police) has alarmed critics who argue it could lead to higher crime rates. New York City’s current plan, supported by the Adams administration, was to add 5,000 officers over three years. Observers note the contrast between that approach and Mamdani’s more progressive policing stance. Some warn that any perceived crime spike under a future Mayor Mamdani might become a critical campaign issue or governance challenge.
• Executive Experience: Opponents have emphasized that Mamdani has never led a large organization, while a mayor must oversee a workforce of roughly 300,000 municipal employees. Fox’s viral video specifically highlighted this gap, quoting himself as saying Mamdani has “no... skills to run 300,000 plus jobs.”. This critique raises concerns about whether Mamdani is prepared for the administrative demands of city government.
• National Security and Public Image: Some analysts point to Mamdani’s past statements and cultural references as a potential political liability. In addition to the rap lyrics about the “Holy Land Five,” Mamdani attracted controversy for not explicitly condemning Hamas (a group officially designated as a terrorist organization) in past interviews. Critics say these issues could become flashpoints, especially if opponents argue Mamdani’s views are out of step with mainstream voters.
• Polarization of Voters: The aggressive tone of the campaign’s videos themselves could sway or repel voters. For example, the “Muslims Against Mamdani” video drew praise from some conservatives and backlash from some progressives. Such tactics might deepen divisions. With the race being relatively close in polls (single-digit difference), any shift in public sentiment could tip the outcome.

Who is Zach Sage Fox?

He is the CEO of Fat Camp Films, a Los Angeles-based media company known for viral online content. Cuomo’s campaign hired Fox to produce 8–10 short videos for social media. Fox has a political communications degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has worked on projects for brands like Coca-Cola and Airbnb.

What is the “Would You Hire Zohran?” video?

It is a campaign video created by Fox’s team in which local New York City small-business owners are shown Zohran Mamdani’s résumé and asked if they would hire him. The clips capture spontaneous reactions, with some owners saying they would not hire him based on his qualifications (internships with his mother’s office and a brief rap career). The video went viral, exceeding 5 million views, and is intended to raise questions about Mamdani’s readiness for the mayor’s job.

How have polls changed since these videos appeared?

A late October poll (Oct. 31) published by the New York Post had Mamdani leading Cuomo by 6.6 points. According to Fox, that lead began narrowing after Cuomo’s campaign launched the new social-media strategy. Fox believes the campaign’s improved online presence “definitely” played a big part in tightening the race. The exact impact on polling is still unfolding, with less than a month to go.

What criticisms of Zohran Mamdani have been highlighted?

Critics (including Fox and Cuomo’s campaign) have focused on two main points. First, Mamdani’s résumé shows limited management experience, which opponents say undermines his case for leading a large city. Second, some of Mamdani’s past statements have been flagged as controversial. For example, his college rap lyrics referenced the “Holy Land Five” (a militant group) and he had previously said he would “Shout out to the Holy Land Five,” which critics interpret as sympathizing with extremists. Mamdani has also been criticized for not publicly denouncing Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization. Supporters of Mamdani argue that these issues are being exaggerated for political effect.

Looking Ahead

With Election Day on Nov. 4 looming, the final weeks of the campaign are likely to see intensified messaging and debate. Andrew Cuomo’s team will continue pushing its social-media strategy in hopes of closing the remaining gap. Fox himself expressed cautious optimism: he said Mamdani’s prospects have improved, but also acknowledged it might be “a little too late” to drastically change the race with under a month remaining.

Voters should expect to see more online videos, televised ads and public appearances from all campaigns as they make last-minute appeals. Pundits note that even small shifts in voter sentiment could be decisive in this tight contest. Ultimately, New Yorkers will decide which vision for the city resonates most – whether it’s the change promised by Mamdani or the critique and alternative offered by Cuomo’s camp. Analysts and observers will be watching poll updates daily, and the result will set the tone for New York City’s policies on policing, education, housing and more in the years ahead.

Source: foxnews.com