BCW Event Delivers Lively Insight on NYC Mayoral Election and Trump

The BCW once again proved why it’s the leading voice for the County’s business community, hosting a lively and informative discussion that shed light on the political implications following New York City’s recent mayoral election. The lunch event held Wednesday at the executive dining room at the BCW’s Rye Brook headquarters drew a full house of business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders eager to understand how the November 5 election could shape the political and economic landscape for Westchester and beyond.

Hosted by John Ravitz, BCW Executive Vice President and COO, the event was part of the Council’s Political Leadership Series. The program kicked off with Annie Norbitz, Vice President of Research at Global Strategy Group, who unveiled fresh polling data capturing voter sentiment on the 2025 election, most notably the election of Zohran Mamdani as NYC mayor, and key races that could redefine the balance of power heading into the 2026 midterms and the upcoming New York gubernatorial race.

Commenting on President Trump’s approval ratings, she noted, “As of a week ago, Trump hit his lowest approval rating on the economy ever in either term, term one, term two. He’s now underwater by 21 points on the economy. This matters to his core promise. He said, I’m going to lower your costs. And that is not happening. And a big part of what’s going on here is Trump’s tariff policy.” 

Adding depth and energy to the conversation, veteran political reporter and talk show host Dominic Carter of Talk Radio 77 WABC offered sharp analysis of the New York mayoral race, an election that promises to not only reshape City Hall but sent ripples through political circles nationwide. Drawing from decades of experience covering every New York City mayor since Ed Koch, Carter’s candid insights fueled an engaging exchange with attendees.

“Mamdani was able to motivate in ways that I haven’t seen done before. But reality is due. He’s in for a very rude awakening. It’s already started with Governor Hochul. He says, free transportation. Come on, folks, I can sell you a bridge if you believe that. So already, Governor Hochul has said no with the free buses. He was waiting for Trump to call him after his victory election. The President basically said, I’m not calling him,” Carter said.

The event underscored BCW’s ongoing mission to keep its members informed and prepared for the ever-changing political landscape—and to help them understand what those changes mean for Westchester’s business community.

Presenting Sponsor for the program was Webster Bank. Contributing Sponsors were Burke Rehabilitation, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, Levitt-Fuirst Insurance & Bonding, Thalle Industries and White Plains Hospital.