Zohran Mamdani launches ‘Survivor’-inspired campaign ad

Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign has released a new Survivor themed ad featuring several former contestants from the long-running CBS reality show.

The spot, which aired during Survivor: The Island of Redemption, shows contestants symbolically voting out Mamdani’s rival, Andrew Cuomo, while calling for leadership that focuses on affordability and everyday struggles faced by New Yorkers.

The ad includes appearances from Survivor alumni Teeny Chirichillo, Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho, Brandon Donlon, Katurah Topps, Jacob Derwin, Stephanie Berger, Natalie Anderson, and Josh Canfield.

In the final scene, Mamdani delivers his message: “We’re going to build a city where no one has to struggle just to survive,” before extinguishing a tiki torch, a nod to the show’s signature elimination ritual.

CBS confirmed that while the commercial aired during its programming, it was not affiliated with the network or the show.

A spokesperson noted that “federal law required WCBS-TV to run the ad,” adding that a disclaimer preceded it, clarifying there was no connection to Survivor or CBS.

This latest ad follows Mamdani’s earlier Golden Bachelor inspired spot, which aired during the ABC show’s season premiere.

Both commercials form part of a multimillion-dollar ad campaign designed to reach diverse television audiences ahead of Thursday’s mayoral debate, where Mamdani will face Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

Mamdani, who rose to prominence after an unexpected Democratic primary win, has gained attention for his unconventional, pop culture-driven campaign strategy and his focus on making living costs more affordable for New Yorkers.