Democratic Candidates Hesitant About Mayor’s Endorsement
This is a bit troubling.
Five Democrats in a suburban council primary have hesitated to indicate whether they’d welcome an endorsement from Mayor Zoran Mamdani. In fact, one candidate even covered their face when asked about it.
Footage shows these candidates, who are challenging two-term Republican Rep. Mike Lawler for the Hudson Valley House of Representatives, split on the idea of receiving support from the democratic socialist mayor.
The group faced questioning from Republicans after a forum held by the left-leaning activist organization Indivisible on January 13.
“I haven’t spoken with Mamdani,” candidate John Capello noted in the video. “I don’t really anticipate he’ll call me.” Sounds like some distance there.
Other candidates, including Peter Chatsky, John Sullivan, and Mike Sachs, also side-stepped the question. Meanwhile, Effie Phillips Staley hid her face in her hands when the topic of Mamdani came up.
Republican strategists are eager to make Mamdani a focal point in state elections beyond the 5th District, believing his progressive policies might alienate suburban and upstate voters this fall.
John McLaughlin, a Republican pollster, stated, “Mamdani will be a significant liability for Democrats in November.” He further mentioned, “He’ll show up in a lot of Republican ads and mailers. Looking forward to it.”
Last fall, the Nassau County Republican Party on Long Island invested $2 million in advertisements featuring Mamdani alongside Democratic candidates, drawing significant attention in those local contests.
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters remarked that figures like Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represent the “new faces” of the Democratic Party, suggesting their influence will aid Republicans in the general election.
“This benefits all candidates on the Republican side,” he added, claiming his party stands for “rationality and common sense,” contrasting it with the Democratic perspective.
Nonetheless, some independent analysts are skeptical about whether Republicans will hold onto their House majority in the midterm elections. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has shifted 18 House districts toward Democrats, including several in New York.
This past week, Cook altered the rating for Lawler’s seat from “lean Republican” to “toss-up.” New York City’s 17th Congressional District encompasses the northern suburbs, northern Westchester County, Rockland County, and parts of Putnam and Dutchess Counties.
