New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani threw his support behind Governor Kathy Hochul's re-election campaign on Thursday, citing her commitment to universal childcare and her ability to work across political ideologies toward shared goals.
Mamdani, who made his endorsement in an op-ed in The Nation, said as the city faces a budget shortfall amid an affordability crisis, his partnership with Hochul would result in a government that delivers for its people.
"The temptation is to allow difference to turn into distrust," Mamdani wrote. "But over the course of our relationship, I have come to trust Governor Hochul as someone willing to engage in an honest dialogue that leads to results. As we face threats from Washington, she has defended our social safety net and protected funding for critical infrastructure projects."
Mamdani did note their disagreement over taxing the wealthiest New Yorkers. However, he sees the Democratic Party as a "big tent."
"At its best, the Democratic Party has been a big tent not because it avoids conflict but because it channels conflict toward progress," Mamdani said. "A party united not by conformity but by a commitment to structural change—and to the work required to achieve it. I’ve seen a model of what that can look like in my collaboration with Governor Hochul: a relationship built on candor, a shared commitment to government that is equal parts competent and trustworthy, and results that working people can feel in their day-to-day lives."
Mamadani's endorsement comes a day after the Brooklyn Democratic Party yanked its endorsement for Hochul after she chose former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate in the June primary.
Antonio Delgado, the current lieutenant governor, is running against Hochul in the primary with India Walton, a political activist from Buffalo.
Hochul continues to hold a commanding lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, 54-28%, little changed from 50-25% in December, according to a new Siena Poll of New York state registered voters released on Monday.
Among registered Democrats, Hochul has an overwhelming 64-11% lead over Delgado, up from 56-13% in December. Hochul’s 49-40% favorability rating, up from 43-41% in December, is the first time Hochul has hit 49% favorable, the poll found.
