A moderate Democrat from New York has voiced criticism of Senator Zoran Mamdani, who is the expected Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City. Representative Laura Gillen stated on Wednesday, “Socialist Zoran Mamdani is too extreme to lead New York City. His campaign relies on unattainable promises and higher taxes, which New York really doesn’t need.” She also pointed out that Mamdani’s call for police funding reflects a troubling pattern, mentioning his comments that suggest unacceptable anti-Semitism.
This marks the first notable opposition from a Democratic official following Mamdani’s surprising success in the initial round of New York City’s ranked-choice voting.
Republicans are seizing on Mamdani’s win over Andrew Cuomo as a way to label Democrats as extremists. Mamdani secured 43.5% of the votes, significantly outpacing Cuomo’s 36.4% in the first round.
Although Cuomo has stepped away from the primary race, questions linger about whether he will join current Mayor Eric Adams to run independently. He hinted to Fox Business that he hasn’t entirely ruled out a comeback in November.
Gillen, a Long Island Democrat who previously distanced herself from former Congressman Anthony Doposite in the 2024 race, has been vocal on law enforcement and immigration issues during her time in Congress. She has also been critical of Mamdani’s platform, which includes a proposal for a city-owned grocery store.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer released a statement on Wednesday indicating that they had connected with Mamdani since his victory. Schumer remarked, “He has run an impressive campaign that resonates with New Yorkers about affordability, fairness, and opportunities.” He also praised Mamdani for focusing on reducing the high cost of living in New York City.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani’s campaign for a response to Gillen’s remarks.
