Ted Cruz Warns New Yorkers: ‘People Are Going to Die’ if Mamdani Becomes Mayor
Senator Ted Cruz issued a stark warning to the people of New York City during the latest episode of his podcast Verdict, telling cohost Ben Ferguson that if Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani wins the city’s mayoral race, the consequences could be catastrophic.
“People are going to die if and when Comrade Mamdani is elected,” Cruz said bluntly. “That is going to be the concept.”
The Texas senator pulled no punches in describing Mamdani as emblematic of the modern Democratic Party’s most extreme elements. “Look, Comrade Mamdani is apparently the future of the Democrat Party,” Cruz said. “The Democrat Party is now explicitly, openly, unapologetically communist and unapologetically jihadist.”
“A Communist, America-Hating Jihadist”
Cruz made clear he wasn’t using hyperbole. He cited Mamdani’s own policy positions — including calls to “seize the means of production” and punitive wealth taxes — as evidence of what he called a full-fledged communist ideology.
“When I call him a communist jihadist, I’m not exaggerating,” Cruz explained. “He has echoed anti-American, anti-Israel rhetoric and supports radical policies that would devastate the economy and endanger lives.”
Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist and close ally of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), has gained national attention for his far-left platform, which includes massive tax hikes on wealthy individuals and corporations, rent cancellation, and defunding law enforcement agencies.
Cruz: “Only Winners Will Be U-Haul and Moving Companies”
Cruz warned that Mamdani’s economic policies would drive jobs, businesses, and residents out of the city.
“He is going to rent more U-Hauls than the very best Willy Loman salesman that has ever worked at U-Haul,” Cruz said. “Anyone with any sense is going to get out of this. They’ll be headed for Texas, for Florida — anywhere they can escape the madness.”
The senator predicted that businesses which help people move out of New York would be the only ones to thrive under Mamdani’s leadership.
“Conservative Man of the Year” — For All the Wrong Reasons
In a jab laced with irony, Cruz said Mamdani could end up doing more for the Conservative Party than any Republican strategist.
“If Comrade Mamdani is elected, I want to nominate him for Conservative Party of New York Man of the Year — because no one will drive more people into the arms of the conservative movement than this guy,” Cruz quipped.
Backlash Building Over Mamdani’s Radical Agenda
Cruz’s warning echoes growing concerns across New York’s business and law enforcement communities. Critics have blasted Mamdani’s plans to impose taxes on corporations that don’t even have offices in the city, warning it could trigger an exodus of capital and talent.
Mamdani has also proposed eliminating cash bail entirely, slashing police budgets, and expanding sanctuary policies — positions that many believe would worsen the already growing crime crisis in New York City.
As the mayoral race enters its final stretch, Cruz’s remarks may strike a chord with frustrated voters desperate for stability. Whether his words are heeded — or dismissed — could determine whether New York City takes a hard-left turn or pulls back from the edge.