While much of the Pacific Northwest is focused on the upcoming Seattle mayoral race, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov says the real political earthquake might be happening 3,000 miles away — in New York City.
In an exclusive interview on The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Vernikov described an atmosphere of unprecedented mobilization and division ahead of the city’s mayoral election — one she believes could redefine both local and national politics.
“We have never seen turnout like we’re seeing now,” Vernikov said. “People are standing in lines for hours to vote. Supervisors told us this is larger than a presidential election.”
Unprecedented Turnout and a City on Edge
Vernikov, who represents one of the city’s largest Jewish districts, said she’s personally witnessed the surge in voter participation.
“The polling sites in my district during early voting were extremely packed,” she recalled. “People told us they stood for hours in line, and the supervisors said it’s bigger than a presidential election.”
She credits that enthusiasm — or anxiety — to the polarizing dynamic of the race between progressive candidate Zoran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“It’s fear and excitement,” Vernikov explained. “I’m hoping the fear vote is going to take over, because I don’t think there’s much excitement for Cuomo. The fear of a Mamdani administration scares the living hell out of people, and they’re coming out to vote in droves against Mamdani.”
“The fear of a Mamdani administration scares the living hell out of people, and so they’re coming out to vote in droves against Mamdani.”
NYC Councilwoman @InnaVernikov joined the show to discuss the New York mayoral election pic.twitter.com/ANLsZciDl0
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) November 4, 2025
The “Fear Vote” vs. the “Excitement Vote”
According to Vernikov, New Yorkers are divided not along traditional partisan lines, but between those “excited” by Momdani’s progressive platform and those “terrified” by what his leadership could bring.
“You see very long lines in North Brooklyn — that’s Momdani country,” she said. “Younger voters are definitely mostly going for Momdani. On the other hand, in the Upper East Side, it’s Cuomo country. Older and more moderate voters are turning out in large numbers, too.”
Vernikov said her hope lies in the “fear vote” — moderate Democrats, independents, and Republicans uniting to prevent what she called “a socialist takeover” of New York City.
Jewish Communities Mobilize Like Never Before
One of the most striking developments, Vernikov said, is the political activation of New York’s Jewish community — including sectors that rarely engage in local politics.
“We’re seeing Orthodox Jews, secular Jews, Russian-speaking Jews — everybody’s really petrified,” she said. “Even communities that don’t normally show up to vote are getting buses, organizing carpools, doing whatever it takes to stop Momdani.”
Vernikov said the fear among Jewish voters is deeply personal and historical.
“A large number of my constituents came from the former Soviet Union,” she explained. “They escaped communism, socialism, and anti-Semitism — which is exactly what Momdani is bringing to the plate here.”
Despite being a Republican, Vernikov endorsed Democrat Andrew Cuomo — a move that raised eyebrows even within her own party.
“I did something very out of the box,” she said. “It created some shockwaves. But I represent people who know what tyranny looks like. They’ll vote for someone they don’t love if it means stopping a socialist who threatens their freedom and safety.”
The Stakes for New York’s Future
Host Ari Hoffman pointed out that the last major statewide race — Lee Zeldin’s near-upset against Governor Kathy Hochul — showed that even a few hundred thousand votes can swing New York elections, especially after the state’s population decline.
Vernikov agreed and warned that a Momdani victory could accelerate the exodus of conservatives and moderates from the state.
“If God forbid, Momdani should win, I’m going to be encouraging Republicans to stay in New York,” she said. “We have a governor’s race coming up, and we can win that race — especially if Momdani is the mayor.”
She singled out Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as a potential gubernatorial candidate capable of uniting the conservative base.
“She’s supposed to announce right after the mayoral election,” Vernikov said. “There’s a pathway for her to win, and I’m going to be working my butt off to make sure she does.”
A Party Realignment: “The Democratic Party Is Now the Socialist Party”
Vernikov expressed concern that much of the Democratic establishment — including figures like Governor Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — has embraced the far-left policies represented by Momdani and his allies.
“When Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Momdani, that was it,” she said. “The Democratic Party is now the Democratic Socialist Party of America, which is, aka, Communist.”
She said the implications stretch far beyond New York City.
“Democrats know this is going to create a lot of trouble for them,” she said. “Republicans are going to use it across the state and across the country. And we’re going to win a lot of seats because Zoran Momdani is now the face of the Democratic Party.”
Vernikov accused Momdani of embracing policies that would “punish Jewish businesses,” “defund the police,” and “abolish private property,” calling him a “Hamas-supporting radical” whose vision would “destroy New York.”