NY governor endorses Mamdani in mayoral race

After criticizing far-left New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul offers her endorsement for the Democratic candidate; polling shows Mamdani with a double-digit lead over all of his rivals.

By World Israel News Staff

New York Governor Kathy Hochul formally endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate in New York City’s upcoming mayoral election, giving the far-left state assemblyman his first high-profile centrist endorsement.

Hochul made the endorsement in a New York Times opinion piece, acknowledging her past “disagreements” with the 33-year-old Mamdani while emphasizing her support for a candidate who will “not be someone who would surrender one inch to President Trump.”

“New York needs leaders who will put aside differences, stand up and fight back against Mr. Trump,” she wrote.

The governor said she has been in touch with Mamdani over the course of months to discuss policy differences and find areas of agreement.

“In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements,” she said.

Alluding to criticism of Mamdani’s sharply anti-Israel positions and refusal to condemn slogans endorsing violence against Jews, such as “Globalize the intifada,” Hochul said she raised her concerns regarding antisemitism with Mamdani and praised him for meeting with local Jewish leaders.

“We discussed the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally. I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly,” Hochul said.

“I look forward to working together to make sure New Yorkers of all faiths feel safe and welcome in New York City.”

Pre-election polling shows Mamdani with double-digit leads over his three primary opponents, including former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is now running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.

An Emerson College survey conducted September 7 through 8 shows Mamdani with a 15-point lead over Cuomo — 43% to 28% — while incumbent Mayor Eric Adams trails in fourth place with 7% behind community activist and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who received 10%.

Polls also show that while roughly 60% of Jewish New Yorkers oppose Mamdani – with half saying they believe he is antisemitic – a plurality plan to vote for him. Mamdani’s Jewish critics are divided among the three other major candidates.