Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York Metropolis’s mayor, giving the progressive state assemblyman a hopeful increase mere weeks forward of the Democratic major that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has dominated within the polls.
“Assemblymember Mamdani has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack,” Ocasio-Cortez informed The New York Occasions Thursday, forward of the discharge of a proper endorsement. “In the final stretch of the race, we need to get very real about that.”
In an announcement recognizing her endorsement, Mamdani hailed Ocasio-Cortez as a “once-in-a-generation leader who has led the fight for working people in Congress.”
MADISON SWART through Getty Photos
“On June 24, with [Ocasio-Cortez’s] support and this movement behind us, we will do the same,” he mentioned, referring to the race’s fast-approaching major.
Mamdani, 33, is much like Ocasio-Cortez, 35, in that he’s a New York Metropolis Democratic Socialist, a millennial and an individual of coloration who has rapidly risen in recognition by way of grassroots efforts of their shared borough of Queens.
He has vowed to freeze lease will increase on rent-stabilized flats, supply free childcare, open city-run grocery shops to cut back meals costs, and make metropolis buses free.
Whereas Cuomo has dominated his opponents in polling since early 2025, Mamdani has surged in current weeks ― gaining 23 factors in one current ballot ― whereas holding tight to a second-place rank among the many 9 Democratic candidates.
YUKI IWAMURA through Getty Photos
Within the major’s first debate Wednesday night time, Mamdani and his opponents railed at Cuomo over marketing campaign donations he’s obtained from the ultra-rich, which Mamdani mentioned put him within the pocket of those that elected President Donald Trump. Additionally they highlighted the sexual misconduct accusations that led to Cuomo’s 2021 resignation.
Cuomo, who has denied the sexual misconduct accusations and affect by political donors, in the meantime, attacked Mamdani as too inexperienced and inexperienced to steer.
“Donald Trump would go through Mr. Mamdani like a hot knife through butter,” Cuomo mentioned. “He’s been in government 27 minutes. He passed three bills, that’s all he’s done.”
Incumbent New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams is operating for reelection as an impartial and didn’t take part within the debate.
