Mayor Endorses Boylan in City Council Race
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has backed Lindsey Boylan, the first woman to publicly accuse former Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, in her City Council campaign. This endorsement is part of her efforts to leverage political influence in the ongoing Democratic race.
Mamdani praised Boylan as a leader who embodies the fearlessness needed today, stating, “She has shown a willingness to speak hard truths, challenge entrenched power, and stand up for workers even when it isn’t easy.” It’s hard not to appreciate the kind of courage that takes, really.
Interestingly, Mamdani himself ran against Cuomo last year, navigating both the Democratic primary and the general election after Cuomo switched to a third-party candidacy. Boylan was active during this period, highlighting Cuomo’s harassment scandal to draw public attention.
Since rising to prominence, Mamdani hasn’t hesitated to endorse other progressive candidates. Almost immediately after his election win, he supported former challenger Brad Lander against U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, who is favored by many moderate Democrats, including Governor Kathy Hochul, a key ally of the mayor.
Days into his tenure, Mamdani further endorsed Democratic Socialist Claire Valdez to take over for retiring U.S. Rep. Nydia Velasquez, despite Velasquez backing a different successor for her seat. The political landscape seems, well, pretty charged given these shifts.
Boylan’s campaign stands in contrast to City Council President Julie Menin, who has thrown her support behind another candidate for an open Manhattan seat, intensifying the struggle over budget matters within the city council.
In his endorsement, Mamdani noted the importance of building alliances within the council. “As we work to usher in a new era in city politics and advance affordable policies, we need partners like Lindsey in our work,” he said, expressing pride in supporting her campaign.
Boylan expressed gratitude for the mayor’s endorsement, especially considering her past attempts for Congress and Manhattan borough president were unsuccessful. “I was proud to support the Mayor’s campaign to bring affordability and change to New York City,” she stated, as her special election for City Council is set for April 28th.
Boylan initially accused Cuomo of harassment in 2020, alleging unwanted advances and inappropriate comments while serving as an economic development adviser. Cuomo has consistently denied these claims and has been firm in his position that he has never harassed anyone. Boylan stepped down in 2021 after a state attorney general’s report confirmed that Cuomo had harassed multiple women, including her.
In response to Mamdani’s support for Boylan, Cuomo’s press secretary, Rich Azzopardi, suggested that the former governor’s stance remained assertive. He described Boylan as a “perpetual candidate” lacking merit. “Mamdani supporting her tells us everything we need to know about him and his new era,” Azzopardi remarked.
