Hundreds show up to judge New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest

NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of people gathered near New York City's popular Washington Square Park Sunday to judge a Mayor Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest.

The winner, Amadeo Fusca, was the crowd favorite, wearing a jersey for the NBA champion New York Knicks underneath a suit. Fusca also had a haircut and facial hair similar to Mamdani, taking home a $100 prize.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist who took office in January, has amassed a large following on social media and among younger residents. The event was sponsored by the social media app, Sonder.

Mamdani's agenda as mayor is centered on refocusing the power of government toward helping the city’s struggling working class.

Nine participants, many with facial hair similar to Mamdani's, came dressed in myriad Mamdani style, including the brown suit Mamdani wore while campaigning in 2025, red and black patterned ties, dress shoes, dark blue and black suits, and silver rings. One of the participants showed up shirtless but wearing an apron — a reference to a rap music video Mamdani made in 2019.

The men were asked one question in the competition — name their favorite pizza — and the winner was decided by who got the most applause.

Attendees initially gathered in the park, but police told them they had to leave because they hadn't obtained a permit. So they moved just outside the park for the competition.

It wasn’t the first time Mamdani look-alikes gathered. A similar contest was held in Brooklyn in 2025 when Mamdani was campaigning for mayor.

Wilder reported from Austin, Texas, and is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Amadeo Fusca, winner of the Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest, reacts with the crowd, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Participants pose for photos during a Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Amadeo Fusca, winner of the Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest, reacts with the crowd, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Amadeo Fusca, center, winner of the Mayor Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest, takes selfies with the crowd, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez homered, hit his 1,000th career single and drove in four while Parker Messick struck out five and gave up one run in six innings to lead the Cleveland Guardians past the Kansas City Royals 11-1 on Sunday.

Cleveland (69-68) holds the third American League wild card.

Ramírez's RBI single in the sixth inning plated Jac Caglianone, helping him become the 11th player in Cleveland history to achieve the feat. His two-run home run in the fourth inning extended the Guardians' lead to 9-1 and was his first at Progressive Field since May 17.

After a 30-minute weather delay, Ramírez opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1 before Nathaniel Lowe sent his 15th homer of the season over the left-center field wall for a 3-1 Cleveland lead.

Jo Adell hit a two-run double in the third, and Lowe added an RBI sacrifice fly.

Chase DeLauter finished 4 for 4, his third career four-hit game, which included an RBI double in the fourth inning, and Adell capped the scoring with a one-run single in the sixth to help the Guardians avoid a series sweep.

Messick (11-8) allowed five hits. Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith combined for two hits to close out the game.

Salvador Perez plated the Royals' run with an RBI single in the first. Kansas City had won 12 of its previous 13 games before Sunday's loss.

Seth Lugo (6-8) gave up nine runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings for Kansas City.

Royals: RHP Randy Dobnak (2-2, 1.92 ERA) starts the series opener against the Marlins on Tuesday.

Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (12-7, 3.98) opens game one over the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Cleveland Guardians' Jo Adell, right, gestures to the dugout after hitting a two-run double against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)

Cleveland Guardians' Parker Messick pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)

Cleveland Guardians' Jo Adell runs after hitting a two-run double against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)

Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez starts ti run after hitting a single against the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)