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New York Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor on Sunday. Hochul praised Mamdani's commitment to affordability and his ability to stand up to President Trump. She expressed her belief that Mamdani has the courage and urgency needed to lead the city into the future.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old left-wing politician, has promised to make public transportation free and freeze rents for subsidized tenants. He won 56.4 percent of the votes in June's Democratic primary, handily defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who s running as an independent. Despite Mamdani's success, some prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have been hesitant to endorse him.
According to Al Jazeera, Mamdani currently holds a 22-point lead over Cuomo, his closest rival, in recent polls. He has also received support from progressive Democrats like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. However, centrist Democrats have been slower to back his campaign.
Mamdani thanked Governor Hochul for her endorsement and acknowledged her role in unifying the party. He also praised her focus on affordability and her resolve in opposing President Trump. The general election is set for November 4, with Mamdani leading the race against Cuomo, GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa and current mayor Eric Adams..