With the city’s mayoral election racing into the home stretch, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo both held rallies in Queens to make their final pitches to voters on a picture-perfect fall Sunday.

Cuomo, a former New York governor, held a “rally to support the Jewish state of Israel” in Kew Gardens, appealing to the neighborhood’s large Jewish community. About 200 people attended.

Cuomo declared his message to the crowd is crystal — that he stands with the Jewish people of New York and that Mamdani, if elected, will present a threat to Jewish New Yorkers.

“We fundamentally resent the idea that a mayor of New York would be a divisive force. What [Mamdani] has done, the offense he has shown to the Jewish community, he should be ashamed of himself,” Cuomo said to the crowd.

Cuomo also zeroed in on the Democratic candidate’s youth and comparative lack of experience.

“You need a mayor who knows how to make government work and I have done that all my life,” he said, distinguishing himself from Mamdani, “who’s never worked a real job in his life.”

Cuomo also promoted himself as a pro-business candidate, insisting, “We have to send a different signal to business. We have to say to businesses we want you to stay here,” and reiterated his plan to hire five thousand more police officers.

“I think he came out very strong for pro-Jewish values. I really appreciate that and respect that,” said rally attendee Hershel Peiser, 23. Peiser, a student at Touro University who said public safety is “easily” his top priority, said he intends to vote for Cuomo.

“I think he is the best candidate for the city for the Jewish community.”

Attendee Rabbi Gary Moskowitz, 68, also said his number one issue was public safety. “You have a fiduciary responsibility is to protect your citizens,” Moskowitz said. “If you can’t do that, there’s nothing left.”

Moskowitz, a former NYC police officer who once received an award from Cuomo’s father, former governor Mario Cuomo, said he was supporting Cuomo “for two reasons.”

“He has a lot of experience with the government and if he does some bad things, okay. No one’s going to have a perfect record. That’s the first thing,” Moskowitz said. Cuomo reigned from the governorship in 2021 after several women accused him of sexual harassment. He has also received criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Second one, Mamdani’s an absolute danger to the Jewish community,” Moskowitz said. He expressed disappointment at the rally’s low attendance. “It’s a beautiful day outside today, that’s why more people should have been here.”

Meanwhile in Forest Hills at Forest Hills Stadium, a packed venue of about 1,000 people turned out to attend a rally for Mamdani.

City comptroller Brad Lander circulated amongst the crowd, stopping to talk to The Daily News in a designated press area. “There’s so much energy out in the streets,” Lander said, “The set of people is hungry to go win this race.”

Lander, who ran for democratic nominee in the primary, has since become one of Mamdani’s most successful surrogates. “New York is not for sale,” Lander said. “There’s so many people excited about who we are here for tonight…and who wanted a different future for the city. Not the sour, selfish, bitter, racist politics of the past that Andrew Cuomo is offering, but hopeful, energetic affordable politics of the future.”

At 6 p.m. the rally was just getting going. Several speakers are expected to address the crowd before the candidate takes the stage.

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