The Mamdani campaign is facing renewed scrutiny after a top aide praised an accused murderer, exposing the radicalism at the heart of New York City’s far-left mayoral contender. Julian Gerson, political director for Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, who emerged as the winner of the Democrat primary, glorified Luigi Mangione—charged with the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—as a bold cultural icon.
In since-deleted Facebook posts, Gerson wrote Mangione is “adored not only because he dared to target a leader of one of the most vile, self-enriching industries darkening our society today, but because he dared to defy the stasis of nihilistic rejection.” He added, “The question is not whether he was right or wrong. It’s how many others he has shaken loose.”
Gerson even fantasized about honoring Mangione, saying he looked forward to “driving down Mangione Avenue a few decades from now.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors in April to seek the death penalty for Mangione.
Gerson’s remarks further tie Mamdani’s campaign to extreme rhetoric. The Queens assemblyman, a prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America, recently defended the anti-Semitic slogan “globalize the intifada,” and has refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.
Mamdani’s embrace of radical figures and ideologies has sparked concern among Jewish voters and moderates across New York. His political director’s praise for a murder suspect only deepens the perception that Mamdani’s movement prioritizes ideology over decency.
Gerson has since deleted his Facebook page. His silence, along with Mamdani’s, continues to raise serious questions.
