Albany elected its first African-American Mayor Tuesday, with Dorcey Applyrs running away with the election over Rocco Pezullo. In historically blue Albany, this was a foregone conclusion, regardless of who won the Democratic nomination to succeed Kathy Sheehan.
The makers of those foam replica heads used in the Tri-City Valleycats' Mayors Race will be looking for some new felt foam for May. Former police chief Eric Hawkins was the capital city's 1st African-American chief, so it tracks that Albany would also elect an African-American as Mayor, and its 2nd straight female leader, after Sheehan.
Several miles to the south, in New York, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani ascended to City Hall, defying the whims and meddling of president Donald Trump, and riding a wave of momentum that has built since he won the Democratic nomination in June, beating Andrew Cuomo.
The message: You don't mess with the Zohran.
There are parallels between Mamdani and some other prominent politicians.
Like former President Barack Obama, Mamdani is a Muslim, which is why conservatives had their briefs all twisted, and their pearls on the verge of being crushed, and, until June, few knew he was in the state Assembly. 17 years ago, Obama, then a junior Senator from Illinois, became the first African-American President, which still roils the GOP and conservatives to this day.
Like Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado, who is looking to primary his boss, Kathy Hochul, next year, Mamdani had a brief career as a rapper.
As we've talked about, the GOP betrayed its own candidate, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, or, more specifically, the charismatically challenged Trump chose to throw his support behind frenemy Cuomo, a childhood pal turned political foe. Sliwa lost to Eric Adams four years ago, and this time, he was buried by his own party, despite a strong showing in recent debates.
If anyone can relate to what Sliwa has to deal with, it's current Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello, who was elected to City Hall on her third try 2 years ago. In 2011, a last minute attack ad against Democrat Lou Rosamillia backfired on the GOP. Six years ago, local GOP operatives betrayed their own candidate, Tom Reale, enabling Patrick Madden to earn a 2nd and final term. Could Sliwa make one last run in 2029? We don't know for sure, but by then, we may not need to deal with the stench of Trump.
To his credit, Andrew Cuomo conceded the election. Something Trump refused to do 5 years ago, and still won't publicly admit he was beaten to this day. And if Trump thinks this is bad, wait 'til next year, and the prospect of the GOP losing the House and/or Senate. If that happens, I'd move the White House out of Washington, and to some place where Trump would feel right at home. Like a psychiatric hospital.
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