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The Cuban entrepreneur Joseph Hernández, an independent candidate for the mayoralty of New York, claimed to have raised nearly 300 thousand dollars in just one month of campaigning, a significant amount for a candidate entering without the support of major parties, though modest compared to the millions typically involved in campaigns in the most expensive city in the country.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hernández stated that he feels supported by a wide network of donors. “We believe we have significant support and continue to seek backing because we have a great battle ahead. This is a powerful political machinery that is fighting against us,” he expressed.
Experts warn that, although the initial amount provides media visibility and grassroots organization, it is far from the resources needed for a race where other candidates, such as Democrat Zohran Mamdani, have strong political structures and million-dollar backing.
Hernández, 52 years old, was born in Camagüey and emigrated to the United States at the age of seven, following his father's political imprisonment in Cuba and the family's exile.
Since then, he has built a business career in the health and technology sector, founding more than a dozen companies and leading the investment firm Blue Water Venture Partners in Manhattan.
His campaign message combines the narrative of the Cuban exile with proposals for security and order. In his first public event in Upper Manhattan, he warned that “I know communism. I lived it. I remember the lines for bread and meat. I don’t want that for New York”.
Hernández claims he is not a professional politician, but a citizen concerned about the direction of the city. His main focuses are security, affordability, and technology. He states that he will hire an additional 10,000 police officers, modernize public services with artificial intelligence, and convert vacant offices into affordable housing.
“I really don't need to do this in my career or in my life, but I am very, very worried about the trajectory of this great city”, he commented in his interview with Fox News Digital.
“The city is not safe,” he asserted. “You cannot take the subway at night. Women face attacks almost every day. There are thefts. There is no law and order; there is no respect for the law.”
His rival: Zohran Mamdani
The major opponent of Hernández is Zohran Mamdani, a state assembly member of Ugandan and Indian descent, who has become a symbol of progressive left in New York.
Mamdani has garnered strong support among young people, immigrants, and activists with proposals such as free public transportation, universal childcare, and rent freezes, although critics question the economic viability of his plans.
Mamdani has also turned his identity into a political banner, being the first Muslim to run for mayor with a Democratic nomination. Additionally, he has reported Islamophobic threats and presents himself as a spokesperson for social justice and equity.
According to a Siena poll cited by Fox News, Mamdani leads the race with a 44% support, followed by former governor Andrew Cuomo (25%), Republican Curtis Sliwa (12%), and current mayor Eric Adams (7%).
While Mamdani represents the progressive wing with an inclusive and social discourse, Hernández defines himself as his "polar opposite", betting on discipline, law, and order.
The contest between the two reflects the clash of visions in a city marked by a housing crisis, rising crime rates, and political polarization. For Hernández, the battle is not just electoral but also ideological. “This is an incredible society, and we are wasting it”, he told Fox News.
The Cuban American knows that raising enough money will be crucial to remain competitive, but he is confident that his personal story and his message of fighting against what he calls the "communist threat" will earn him a place in the toughest and most expensive race in New York.
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