Andrew Cuomo, speaking far left, has criticized Zohran Mamdani’s positions on Israel as a wedge issue that can win Jewish voters.

Faced with accusations of amplifying or inserting Islamophobia into the New York City’s mayor’s race, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo struck a familiar, aggressive pose last week.

It was his opponent, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who sought to offend and divide, not him, Mr. Cuomo said.

“Who haven’t you offended?” he asked Mr. Mamdani rhetorically at a news conference in Queens. “Jewish, Italian, L.G.B.T.Q., N.Y.P.D. The Black community, saying that Barack Obama is evil and a liar. Who have you not offended? Who have you not tried to divide and attack? Hindu community. Sunni Muslim community. Who have you not attacked?”

As Mr. Cuomo, a lifelong Democrat running as an independent, tries to improve his standing in the final stretch of the race, he has cast a wider net to attract voters. To win Republican supporters of that party’s nominee, Curtis Sliwa, Mr. Cuomo has courted them at campaign stops, in interviews on Fox News and with appearances on conservative podcasts.

But Mr. Cuomo has also targeted certain groups that have longstanding affiliations with Democratic candidates and that may be more inclined toward Mr. Mamdani, whether because of his views, background or the fact that he is the Democratic nominee.

Matt Wing, a political consultant who worked