Rapaport has been vocally critical of Mamdani since he launched his campaign, largely over the mayor’s criticism of Israel.

Michael Rapaport says he’s running for New York mayor in 2029 to save city from ‘evil’ Zohran Mamdani

Rapaport has been vocally critical of Mamdani since he launched his campaign, largely over the mayor's criticism of Israel.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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January 5, 2026 8:28 p.m. ET

Zohran Mamdani; Michael Rapaport. Credit:

Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty; Michael Loccisano/Getty

Michael Rapaport's opposition to New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has become so total, that he's decided to run to replace him.

The *Masked Singer *star welcomed listeners to the latest episode of his *I Am Rapaport *podcast on Monday by rattling off, "Welcome to the ziggy zone of disruption. My name is Michael Rapaport, a.k.a. Mayor Rapaport. Mr. Mayor Rapaport, a.k.a. The Gringo Mandingo, a.k.a. The Enflamed Ashkenazi, a.k.a. The Sultan of Sniff."

For the following hour, he continued obliquely to refer to himself as "Mayor Rapaport," until the final few minutes, when he made his big announcement.**

"Let me tell you something, guys, girls, women, children of all ages. 2025 was crazy, and I don't see it getting any f---ing calmer or cooler in 2026, the way things started. That's why I'm running for mayor."

Michael Rapaport on 'The Traitors'.

Rapaport noted that he actually "announced my proposal" previously. Indeed, a post shared to his Instagram on Thursday bore the caption, "Born. Raised. NYC. Nothing's free. No bulls---. No fake grins. I'll own my mistakes, apologize when I screw up, and fight to make this city safe, affordable, and thriving. You got Zoron the Moron now... Mayor Rapaport is coming."

The actor has been one of newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani's most vocal and crudest critics since he emerged as the Democratic frontrunner last summer. Rapaport frequently dedicated time on his podcast, made social media posts, and gave interviews on right-wing news channels in which he trashed the 34-year-old politician, often citing his criticism of Israel and Muslim identity as points of contention.

Rapaport took up a similar approach on Monday's edition of his podcast, saying, "We have a s--- stain at the helm right now. We have a s--- stain at the helm right now in New York City, and it is a reality. It is a f---ing reality. I think he's going to supersede our wildest fears and expectations. Zohran the Zero, Zohran the Ziophobe, he is going to supersede all our fears and expectations."****

** has reached out to the mayor's press office for comment.

Pickle on 'The Masked Singer' angrily revealed as comedian and actor

Debra Messing slammed for sharing election image calling Zohran Mamdani 'jihadist'

"People are like, 'It's upcoming, it's in 2029. You've got to prepare now. What would Kobe do? If Kobe was running for mayor of New York City, what would he do?' He'd be preparing right now. He'd be waking up 4:30 in the morning. Did I wake up at 4:30 this morning? F--- no," Rapaport continued. "But we are preparing."

The actor noted that if fans "want to send in your resume, send in your resume," because he's "taking it as far as I can take it." He then asked his fans to refer to him as "Mayor Rap," before turning his attention back to Mayor Mamdani.****"Do I think people are going to be getting chased around New York City with pitchforks? No, but he is softening the palate for so many f---ing things. He's got a huge f---ing ego," he said. "He's got a f---ing evil f---ing grin. And I think he's up to no good."

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Mamdani, the son of acclaimed Indian American filmmaker Mira Nair, endured pushback from several celebrities during his campaign over past criticisms of Israel, and its policy of occupation in Palestine. *Will & Grace *star Debra Messing referred to Mamdani as "an actual communist jihadist. A literal Karl Marx-quoting, America-hating jihadist" on Election Day in November.

But Mamdani won by a whopping nine percent margin in the race against former mayor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent after Mamdani won the Democratic primary. His popularity in other corners was evident in an October appearance on *The View*, in which cohost Whoopi Goldberg had to reprimand the audience for shouting out too many supportive exclamations.**

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