Hochul endorses Mamdani in NYC mayoral race

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed party nominee Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race.

Hochul wrote an op-ed in The New York Times of her endorsement of Mamdani, after deliberating for months, according to the newspaper.

The governor is a moderate who recently said she loves capitalism, promised not to raise taxes, and supports Israel. Meanwhile, Mamdani is a democratic socialist who wants New York City's highest earners to pay higher taxes and critical of Israel's war in Gaza against Palestinian-backed Hamas.

Hochul said that she had been talking with Mamdani for months and that they had some disagreements.

“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,” Hochul wrote. “I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support.”

Mamdani thanked Hochul for her endorsement and said she had “made affordability the centerpiece of her work.”

“There’s so much work left to do, and our movement is only growing stronger,” Mamdani said.

New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, who might run against Hochul in the gubernatorial election next year, said that the governor now must own “every radical position” Mamdani has supported, including his past support for defunding the police.

“As I always said, it was only a matter of time before the worst governor in America, Kathy Hochul, would bend the knee to the communist antisemite Zohran Mamdani,” Stefanik said.

Mamdani has denied accusations that he is antisemitic.

The democratic socialist state legislator is facing off against fellow Democrats who are running as independents in the general election, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is running against the Democrats. All three of Mamdani's opponents have argued that he is too far left and too inexperienced.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have not yet endorsed Mamdani.

President Trump criticized Hochul's endorsement.

"Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has Endorsed the 'Liddle' Communist,' Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York," Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday. "This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City. How can such a thing happen? Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad! President DJT."

Trump has suggested that the race should just be between Cuomo and Mamdani to increase the likelihood of the democratic socialist's defeat.

Hochul said recently that Trump shouldn't interfere in the race.

“Contrary to what the president thinks, he’s not a king, he’s not a kingmaker, and he should not be anointing the next mayor of New York City,” Hochul said.

She also wrote that she and Mamdani were united in opposing Trump’s policies that hurt New York City, including cuts to Medicaid and food stamps.

“Zohran Mamdani and I will both be fearless in confronting the president’s extreme agenda — with urgency, conviction and the defiance that defines New York,” Hochul said.

In an apparent reference to Trump’s efforts to help Cuomo, she added, “Anyone who accepts his tainted influence, or benefits from it, is compromised from the start.”

Hochul, who served as Cuomo's lieutenant governor while he was in office, called the former governor's behavior “repulsive” after the state attorney general found that he sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo has denied the allegations.

New York GOP Chairman Edward Cox said in a statement that Hochul had endorsed “an avowed communist” for mayor, and that New Yorkers were leaving the state over her failed policies.

Sliwa’s campaign criticized both Hochul and Mamdani, saying, “They deserve each other.”