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- Former Democratic Rep Advises Mamdani's Opponent How 'To Go After Him'</p>
<p>Hailey GomezJune 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM</p>
<p>Harold Ford Jr. on "The Five" discussing Mamdani [Screenshot/Fox News/"The Five"] ©[Screenshot/Fox News/"The Five"]</p>
<p>Former Democrat Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr. said Monday on Fox's "The Five" that whoever emerges as the "leading opponent" to New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani should press him on policies that involve race and wealth.</p>
<p>Since winning New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, Mamdani has come under scrutiny for proposals that could impact the nation's largest city if he wins in November. Ford discussed Mamdani's refusal to denounce the phrase "globalize the intifada" and also Mamdani's push to tax "whiter neighborhoods." Ford called the latter idea "the most racist thing to do."</p>
<p>"I didn't understand his interview with Kristen Welker. He said that he didn't want to add race or introduce race to this. But he is, and he doesn't want to police speech. But I guess it's OK for him to add any kind of speech he wants and just wrap it or defend it with the notion of free speech. I wonder what he thinks about the word slavery?" Ford asked.</p>
<p>"Is that something you don't want to talk about? Or what he thinks about the N-word? Does he have friends who use that word, and we may misunderstand it?" Ford asked. "To talk about wealth and race, I think, is the most racist thing to do. So I hope if he's going to be — he is the nominee for the Democratic Party. I hope he understands that and hope he reassesses how he talks about these things because a lot of people are listening and a lot of people reacting."</p>
<p>During an interview ahead of New York City's election day, Mamdani came under fire after appearing on "The Bulwark" and refusing to denounce the phrases "globalize the intifada" and "From the river to the sea" when host Tim Miller asked if they made him uncomfortable. Mamdani told Welker on Sunday that while it isn't the "language" he uses, his beliefs are grounded in "universal human rights." (RELATED: 'Capital Is Mobile': Hugh Hewitt Names Which City Would Get All Of NYC's Banking And Finance If Mamdani Wins)</p>
<p>WATCH:</p>
<p>In addition to his stance on controversial phrases, Mamdani has faced criticism for proposing tax hikes on wealthier neighborhoods, with his campaign website saying he would target "richer and whiter areas."</p>
<p>Ford said he gives Mamdani credit for recognizing that "affordability is the issue on most Americans' minds," but he also said President Donald Trump has been "the best" at addressing it.</p>
<p>"He's diagnosed the challenge, I think, here in New York — prices are way high for housing. Prices are way high for small business owners," Ford said. "But to give away everything free as the answer, I think it's hard to say to small business owners who pay taxes, who work hard, who want to instill a work ethic in their employees and their children and those around them that we should just give everything away for free."</p>
<p>"So whomever is his leading opponent, whether it's Andrew Cuomo or Eric Adams is certainly on the ballot, that they craft a message around these things to go after him and make him answer," Ford said. "How are you assessing wealth through race? But you can't condemn global intifada? You can't condemn or acknowledge the state of Israel's right to exist? These are real questions I think he's going to have."</p>
<p>Mamdani won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday, beating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo by an estimated seven points, according to projections. A breakdown from The New York Times shows Mamdani led Cuomo by about 10 points among "middle income" voters and roughly 13 points among "higher income" voters, while Cuomo carried "lower income" voters by an estimated 13 points.</p>
<p>Along with his proposal to tax "whiter neighborhoods," Mamdani is seeking to raise an estimated $10 billion to fund a slew of free amenities, raise the minimum wage to $30, defund the police and end cooperation with the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal migrants.</p>
<p>Mamdani is expected to face off in November against current Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Cuomo may also enter the race as an independent.</p>
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