Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani addressed concerns on Thursday regarding his affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). He faced backlash from far-left factions due to his endorsement of City Comptroller Brad Lander in the upcoming Democratic primary for the NY-10 district.
Mamdani, facing criticism from within DSA, reaffirmed his commitment to the group, particularly highlighting support for City Councilmember Alexa Aviles. “This will always be my political home, and I will continue to be a proud member of parliament,” he stated firmly.
His endorsement of Lander, who has declared a primary bid against incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman, ignited a wave of frustration among DSA members, creating quite the stir on social media platforms. David Desiree, a member of the New York City-DSA leadership, expressed strong disappointment, saying, “I am extremely disappointed in Mr. Zoran for supporting Mr. Lander and bypassing the organization that got him elected.”
This incident marks the second time since Mamdani’s election win that he appears to be at odds with DSA members aiming to challenge established Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections.
Mamdani has also urged socialist groups to reconsider alliances, particularly advising them against backing Brooklyn City Councilman Chi Ose in his contest with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He made rounds at DSA chapter meetings to convey this message clearly.
However, when pressed by reporters at a press event in Chelsea, Mamdani denied wanting any members of the socialist faction to withdraw support. “That’s not what I said,” he insisted, clarifying, “I specifically chose to support Brad Lander, the candidate running against the incumbent.”
After Lander’s announcement of his candidacy with Mamdani’s backing, Aviles downplayed Lander’s viability in the race, remarking that “splitting the field would be too risky.” Additionally, Ose appeared to move on from a lengthy negotiation with Jeffries, referencing his ongoing support for Aviles on social media.
