New York City has officially reached the point where looking like the mayor can win you cash. Hundreds of people gathered near Washington Square Park Sunday for a Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest, proving once again that there is no shortage of strange ways to spend a Sunday in NYC.
The Mamdani look-alike party was organized by Sonder, a social app launching in New York, with $100 going to the winner and $50 promised to the runner-up. Nine contestants showed up ready to prove they had the mayoral resemblance, complete with Mamdani-inspired hair, facial hair, suits, ties and, naturally, plenty of confidence.
The big winner was Amadeo Fusca, a 40-year-old Manhattan actor and comedian who has already made a name for himself impersonating Mamdani online. Fusca really committed to the bit, wearing a New York Knicks jersey underneath his suit—a nod to Mamdani’s now-famous Knicks celebration outfit. The resemblance was apparently strong enough to earn him the crowd’s approval and the $100 prize.
The judging criteria were about as New York as you could get. Contestants were asked one crucial question: What is your favorite pizza? The winner was determined by audience applause, because apparently the city has decided that pizza opinions are the closest thing to a democratic mandate.
There was even a little NYC bureaucratic seasoning. The crowd initially gathered inside Washington Square Park, but police moved the event outside because organizers did not have a permit. Naturally, the show went on anyway.
One contestant went shirtless in an apron, referencing Mamdani’s 2019 music video, while others copied his campaign-era brown suit and signature accessories.
So forget campaign rallies. In 2026, NYC politics has officially entered the look-alike era—and somewhere, nine men are probably still arguing about who has the better pizza order.
