He’s the anti-Mamdani.
A Cuban-born biotech entrepreneur decided to make a longshot bid for NYC mayor because he loathes the radical left-wing ideas pushed by socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani — and saw just how dangerous they are in real life, he told The Post.
“I was raised in a socialist communist society, so I am the antithesis of Zohran Mamdani’s ideology,” declared Joseph Hernandez.
“In fact, he’s a motivator for me to fight in this race. I despise socialism. I am a believer in the American dream. I’m a believer in capitalism. It’s not perfect, but it’s lifted more people out of poverty than any other ideology,” he said.
Hernandez — a 52-year-old Lower East Side resident who immigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven with his family to escape Fidel Castro’s communist rule — entered the race as an independent just over a month ago after collecting enough signatures to get on the November ballot.
“I doing this because I love the city and want to make it better,” Hernandez said. “I don’t have baggage like [many of the other candidates]. I’m a businessman; I’m logical; I know technology; and know how to structure budgets.”
The registered Republican heads Manhattan-based healthcare and technology investment firm Blue Water Venture Partners
If elected, he’s vowed to hire 10,000 new cops along with other public safety improvements; convert unused office space into affordable housing and use artificial intelligence to improve city services.
The huge underdog joins a crowded field that besides Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, includes Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, Mayor Eric Adams, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and defense lawyer Jim Walden. Adams and Cuomo are registered Dems running as independents; Walden is a registered Independent.
Hernandez said he’s raised roughly $300,000 since entering the campaign in late June and has already secured an endorsement from the Bodega and Small Business Group, which vehemently opposes Mamdani’s proposal to create Soviet-style, city-run supermarkets.
A Sienna poll this week showed Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, had 44% of the vote, following by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 25%, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa with 12% and Mayor Eric Adams with 7%. The remaining 12% support another candidate or are undecided.
Hernandez rejected the idea that he might be splitting votes even further among moderates and conservatives seeking an alternative to Mamdani– and thereby increasing the socialist’s chances of winning.
“I’m doing this because I live in the city and I think it’s so spinning out of control – and I think I’m the most qualified candidate,” he said. “I’m a businessman, I’m logical, I know technology. And I know how to structure budgets.”
