Harris Engages with Progressives in Bid for 2028 Primary
Former Vice President Kamala Harris has reached out to Zoran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City and an anti-Israel activist, amidst her efforts to strengthen her position as a leading candidate in the 2028 Democratic primary.
The conversation between Harris and Mamdani followed the recent New York primary, where Democratic Socialists and other leftist candidates ousted incumbents. Their discussions also revolved around the future direction of the Democratic Party.
A source familiar with the talks reported that Harris congratulated Mamdani on his win in securing a progressive ally in the city, aiming to enhance her appeal among younger Democrats following her loss in the 2024 elections.
“The vice president reached out to me for a brief chat,” Mamdani shared on SiriusXM’s “The Clay Cane Show.” He noted that they had been in contact periodically over the last few months and expressed gratitude for her support.
Abbas Allawi, co-founder of the Uncommitment Movement, which opposes President Biden’s reelection due to U.S. backing of Israel, stated that he had met Harris in Detroit after receiving numerous calls from her.
“In my first conversation with her, I explained that many families in my district had lost loved ones in Israeli airstrikes funded by the U.S. Additionally, my 91-year-old grandmother’s home was destroyed,” Allawi recounted.
He continued, “When we met last week, I reiterated my view that American taxpayer dollars should never be directed at harming civilians or wiping out entire communities.”
Allawi, who is seeking a seat in Michigan’s Senate District 2, emphasized the importance of his state in combatting Trumpism and urged Harris and other party leaders to take a stand against perpetual wars, violence in Gaza, and ethnic cleansing in Lebanon.
This district includes Dearborn, where the mayor has not expressed support for Harris in 2024. Similarly, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American whose district comprises Dearborn, has withheld her endorsement.
According to Axios, Harris has also conferred with James Zogby, a veteran Palestinian advocate and member of the Democratic National Committee.
Shortly after Biden’s decision to forgo a re-election campaign in July 2024, Harris commented on Israel’s civilian casualties during its conflict with Hamas, asserting, “I will not remain silent on these issues.”
“To everyone advocating for a ceasefire and peace, I hear your voices,” she said.
Moving forward, Harris reportedly plans to engage with leaders from the Irresponsible Movement to discuss a potential arms embargo on Israel if she secures a nomination.
While trying to appeal to Jewish Democratic voters, she highlighted in her acceptance speech for the party’s nomination her commitment to “defend Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Polls indicate that Harris has almost retained Biden’s share of the Jewish vote from 2020 to 2024. However, Trump outperformed her among Muslim-American voters in the recent presidential election, securing only 20.3% of that demographic during an exit poll conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The recent New York primary underscored the party’s enthusiasm for anti-Israel candidates, such as Dalializa Avila Chevalier, who beat five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
Jewish Rep. Dan Goldman also lost to former City Comptroller Brad Lander, a former DSA member critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
According to the latest data, Harris leads the national Democratic primary with 27.3% support, but she has yet to confirm her intentions for 2028. “Maybe so. I’m thinking about it,” she told Rev. Al Sharpton during a conference in April. “I’ll keep you updated.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez follow Harris in approval ratings, with figures of 17%, 12.6%, and 11%, respectively.
Neither Harris nor Mamdani’s representatives commented on requests for additional information.
