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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday finally endorsed the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
In the New York Times op-ed announcing her endorsement, Hochul wrote that she’s had “frank conversations” with him. “We’ve had our disagreements,” she wrote. “But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support.”
Hochul said she also made clear to Mamdani her goals of combatting rising antisemitism and equipping police officers with “every resource to keep our streets and subways safe.”
She underscored that both are united in fighting President Donald Trump’s “extreme agenda.” Both have been outspoken, for example, against Trump’s recent deployments of National Guard troops to cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., in the name of fighting crime.
Prior to her endorsement, Hochul had been among the Democratic leaders in New York, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who have received intraparty criticism for not immediately backing Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, after he became the party’s nominee.
At an event at Brooklyn College earlier this month on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., lambasted his party’s leadership, saying, “I find it hard to understand how the major Democratic leaders in New York state are not supporting the Democratic candidate. One might think that if a candidate starting at 2% in the polls, gets 50,000 volunteers, creates enormous excitement, gets young people involved in the political process, get non-traditional voters to vote, Democratic leaders would be jumping up and down.”
Mamdani thanked the governor on social media shortly after her endorsement. “I’m grateful for the Governor’s support in unifying our party, her resolve in standing up to Trump, and her focus on making New York affordable. I look forward to the great work we will accomplish together,” he wrote. “Our movement is only growing stronger.”
Mamdani, who is leading in the polls, is set to face off against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in November’s general election.