Actor Michael Rapaport announces 2029 NYC mayoral run against Zohran Mamdani

Michael Rapaport announced he is running for New York mayor in 2029, citing opposition to current Mayor Mamdani

Michael Rapaport, actor and podcast host, has declared he will run for New York City mayor in 2029, targeting current Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Rapaport, known for his role on The Masked Singer and his I Am Rapaport podcast, shared the news during his latest episode on Monday, using his usual mix of humour and blunt commentary.

On the show, Rapaport repeatedly referred to himself as ‘Mayor Rapaport’ before formally announcing his campaign. He criticised Mamdani’s leadership, calling him ‘Zohran the Zero’ and claiming the mayor’s decisions show a ‘huge ego’ and an ‘evil grin’. Rapaport singled out Mamdani’s criticism of Israel as a major reason for opposing him.

Rapaport has been outspoken about Mamdani since the politician’s election last year, using his podcast, social media, and interviews on right-leaning media outlets to challenge the mayor’s record. Despite the 2029 election being three years away, Rapaport encouraged supporters to ‘prepare’ and even invited fans to submit resumes to join his campaign, jokingly asking them to call him ‘Mayor Rap’.

Mamdani, 34, the son of filmmaker Mira Nair, won the race by nine percent over former mayor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent after losing the Democratic primary. Mamdani drew criticism from some celebrities over past comments on Israel, but he maintained strong public support, including during appearances on shows like The View.

Rapaport’s entry into the mayoral race positions him as a high-profile critic of Mamdani and guarantees his opposition will remain highly visible. While he is best known for entertainment, his announcement shows he intends to make his campaign a prominent feature in New York politics.