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With his inauguration as New York City's mayor just around the corner, Zohran Mamdani has endorsed Diana Moreno to succeed him in the New York State Assembly. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, announced his support for Moreno, who shares his political ideology, during an event at Athens Square Park in Astoria on Saturday. Mamdani praised Moreno for her dedication to union workers and immigrant communities, stating, "I can’t imagine anyone more capable of carrying our movement forward than Diana." He expressed confidence in her ability to advance his affordability agenda.
Moreno, a longtime friend of Mamdani, is facing competition from three other candidates in the special election scheduled for February 3. These candidates include Mary Jobaida, Rana Abdelhamid, and Shivani Dhir. Jobaida, an early entrant in the race, emphasized her grassroots campaign, noting that she has the backing of the Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group, which also supported Mamdani during his mayoral campaign. Dhir, an assistant dean at NYU, has expressed her support for Mamdani’s affordability efforts.
The district, known for its progressive leanings, is expected to see a spirited contest. Moreno, endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, has already begun an intensive campaign, knocking on thousands of doors in the district. She is determined to continue the momentum from Mamdani's mayoral campaign, aiming to secure the Assembly seat in the upcoming special election. Governor Kathy Hochul is anticipated to officially call the election soon after Mamdani assumes the mayoral office on January 1.
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