NYC, comptroller frontrunner backed by MAGA supporter after he campaigns that he will ‘take on Donald Trump'
City comptroller frontrunner Mark Levine cozied up to a Big Apple MAGA supporter and election denier while locking down the Jewish bloc — after the Democrat campaigned that he would 'take on Donald Trump.'
Incumbent Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine recently accepted the endorsement of Victoria Zirkiev, a self-proclaimed Trump supporter, and touted the backing in a photo on his Instagram while meeting with a Jewish Charity last week.
'Today our community welcomed @marklevinenyc the Manhattan Boro President who is running for NYC Comptroller. It's important to vote for the right mayor but it's also important to elect the right people for the other positions in NY,' she said, issuing her endorsement.
Mark Levine received the backing from Victoria Zirkiev last week.
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Levine's pal has posted many times in support of the current president, including selfies in a Trump 2024 hat, and wrote, in a since-deleted story, Zirkiev suggested the 2020 election was stolen, according to the Times of Israel.
'Can you guess who I voted for? Only TRUMP!' reads one of Zirkiev's posts.
Zirkiev serves as the president of the women's division of Queens-based nonprofit, Chazaq.
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The campaign brushed off the endorsement as simply a photo from the campaign trail, taken with leaders of a group that receives some of its funding from the City Council.
'This is absurd – Mark Levine has been standing up to Trump for over a decade and as Comptroller will be New York's firewall against his fascism,' said campaign manager Matt Rubin. 'Suggesting anything more is campaign non-sense and insulting to Jewish communities across the city that are facing real challenges and threats.'
Levine's camp has since removed the photo from his Instagram.
The group distanced itself from the public support, telling The Post, 'The Chazaq organisation does not endorse anyone.'
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Zirkiev could not be reached for comment.
The photo emerged in the final days of the comptroller race for the Democratic nomination, while one of the main issues has been how the next fiscal watchdog will deal with President Trump, who has vowed to target all sanctuary cities.
'As comptroller, I will take on Donald Trump,' Levine promised during a debate in May.
In February, Big Apple officials were left stunned when $80 million in federal funds was siphoned out of city accounts by DOGE, following tweets from Elon Musk that the money was used to house migrants in luxury hotels.
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President Trump backed up his then-ally Musk, condemning the city's use of federal dollars.
'This is a massive fraud that's taking place,' Trump said at the time.
Brad Lander, the current city comptroller and candidate for mayor, called the stunt a 'highway robbery' and demanded that Mayor Eric Adams get the money back, but it was never returned.
Levine has a hefty lead over his opponent, current councilman and finance chair Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), who is term limited.
Levine was polled at 44% compared to Brannan's 14% in a Honan Strategy Group poll released on June 11, which had the undecided votes just over one third.
Brannan's internal poll had him trailing Levine by 11 percentage points with 44% of voters still undecided with the primary set to be held on June 24.
Brannan, who also claims he'll go toe-to-toe with Trump to defend the City's coffers, also has some loose ties to the MAGA world.
The super PAC, New Yorkers for Accountablitly, backing his run is run by lobbyist Patricia Lynch and former Republican Assembly candidate Dmitriy Kugel, who has openly supported Trump.
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'What we need right now is a fighter and not a letter writer,' Brannan said at a debate on June 10.
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