New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has agreed to appear in a televised town hall hosted by a local ABC station. His decision came shortly after the network announced it would reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, which had been suspended earlier this month.
Mamdani, a Democratic state assembly member from Queens, had previously withdrawn from the event in protest. He argued that ABC’s suspension of Kimmel undermined free speech and represented corporate leaders placing profit over press freedom.
The town hall, set for Thursday with New York’s WABC, will feature Mamdani alongside other candidates, including former governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent mayor Eric Adams. With less than two months until the November 4 election, the event is expected to be a key moment in the campaign.
Kimmel’s show was taken off air on September 17 after the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reportedly pressured ABC. The FCC had threatened to review broadcast licenses if the network did not act against Kimmel, who had criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The suspension drew swift backlash. Politicians, journalists, and free-speech groups condemned the move as censorship, while protests and boycott calls targeted both ABC and its parent company, Disney. Demonstrations were held outside Disney headquarters in Burbank, California, demanding Kimmel’s reinstatement.
During a news conference on Monday, Mamdani explained his initial withdrawal, saying he was standing against what he described as corporate cowardice in the face of government pressure. “This moment of authoritarianism does not only come from the White House. It is also marked by the weakness of those who bow to it,” he said.
Mamdani stressed that the issue extended beyond one television host. “It’s not just Jimmy Kimmel himself,” he said. “It’s the engineers, writers, and musicians who are being affected. This sends a dangerous message that free speech is no longer a guaranteed right but something controlled by the government.”
Disney, facing public pressure, announced on Monday that Kimmel’s show would return to broadcast this Tuesday. The company said the decision followed “days of thoughtful conversations” with the comedian. Industry reports suggested Disney was balancing Kimmel’s reinstatement with ongoing negotiations for a major media rights deal with the National Football League.
The controversy added a new dimension to an already heated New York mayoral race. Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary, currently leads polls with 43% support among registered voters. Cuomo, now running as an independent, has 28%. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa has 10%, while Adams, also running as an independent, polls at 8%. About 9% of voters remain undecided.
The Trump administration has reportedly explored offering Adams a federal position in exchange for him stepping aside, a move analysts suggest could benefit Cuomo. President Trump is said to favor Cuomo over Mamdani in the upcoming election.
Despite the political maneuvering, Mamdani has continued to present himself as the candidate most committed to defending constitutional rights. “I am running to be the next mayor of this city to show what it means to stand up, not just for New York, but for the Constitution itself,” he said.
Mamdani has also secured the endorsement of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, further strengthening his position as the leading contender. With the election approaching, the candidate is seeking to frame his campaign as part of a broader defense of democratic values in the face of political pressure.
For ABC, the reinstatement of Kimmel closes a turbulent chapter, at least for now. Yet the episode has highlighted growing concerns about the role of media corporations under political scrutiny and the fragile balance between business interests and free expression.
