In a significant political development, Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, has officially endorsed Zohran Mamdani in his campaign for mayor of New York City. This endorsement marks a crucial boost for the democratic socialist candidate as he seeks to lead the nation’s largest city. In her recent opinion piece for the New York Times, Hochul emphasized the importance of collaboration between the office of the governor and the mayor, stating, “In the four years since I took office, one of my foundational beliefs has been the importance of the office of New York governor working hand in hand with the mayor of New York City for the betterment of the 8.3 million residents we both represent.”
Hochul expressed her serious consideration regarding the next mayoral race, saying, “The question of who will be the next mayor is one I take extremely seriously and to which I have devoted a great deal of thought. Tonight I am endorsing Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she added, “New York City deserves a mayor who will stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable for New Yorkers. That’s @ZohranKMamdani.”
Zohran Mamdani expressed gratitude for Hochul's endorsement in his own post on X. He stated, “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. Our movement is only growing stronger.” This endorsement is seen as a signal that centrist Democrats, who may have previously hesitated to support Mamdani, are beginning to rally behind the 33-year-old candidate.
Mamdani's campaign gained significant traction when he won the Democratic primary in June, defeating establishment candidate Andrew Cuomo with a platform promising to freeze rent, implement a $30 minimum wage, and increase taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers. His campaign's focus on change, along with a savvy social media strategy, energized thousands of new voters, positioning him comfortably ahead of Cuomo, who is now running as an independent candidate. Polling also indicates that Mamdani has a sizeable lead over both Eric Adams, the unpopular incumbent mayor running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Despite her previous reluctance to endorse any mayoral candidate, Hochul has recently met with Mamdani and appears to have shifted her stance. Earlier this year, she hinted at her reservations, telling journalists in June, “Obviously, there are areas of difference in our positions.” However, her endorsement now suggests a potential unification within the Democratic Party as they approach the election.
Governor Hochul, who is preparing for her re-election campaign next year, released her first campaign advertisement in late August, portraying herself as a straightforward “fighter” against Donald Trump. Mamdani’s success in the primary has inspired over 10,000 progressives to consider running for office, as reported by the Guardian in August. His campaign has also garnered endorsements from high-profile progressive figures, including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Yet, senior Democratic leaders in New York, such as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have yet to publicly endorse any candidate for mayor, reflecting a cautious stance within the party’s establishment.
