Zohran Mamdani decides not to support Kathy Hochul’s re-election after she backed him in the NYC mayoral race: ‘[She] was taken advantage of’

Zoran Mamdani has opted not to back Governor Kathy Hochul in her reelection efforts.

Hochul had previously supported Mamdani during his mayoral campaign, emphasizing shared values with democratic socialists, particularly regarding affordability.

Despite this support, Mamdani stated on Monday that, at least for now, he would not endorse Hochul’s election bid for next year.

In his remarks to reporters, he mentioned that it was premature to discuss “anything beyond certain matters.”

“I’m focused on November and I’m eager for the Governor’s backing in that fight,” he said.

This apparent dismissal caught the attention of Rep. Elise Stefanik, a critic of the governor.

Stefanik remarked, “Even Mamdani won’t support Kathy Hochul less than a day after she backed him!” in a statement.

Hank Shenkopf, an experienced campaign strategist, indicated that this scenario highlighted Mamdani’s growing political leverage among left-leaning democratic socialists.

“Good deeds don’t go unrewarded. Hochul appears weak,” he noted, suggesting that she is being cautious around Mamdani and his supporters.

Shenkopf asserted that Mamdani seems to hold more influence within the New York Democrats than Hochul does, marking a shift in power dynamics.

Yiatin Chu from the citywide Asia Wave Alliance commented on the situation.

She noted, “The democratic socialists have perceived weakness in Hochul; they’re ready to strike,” in a post.

As governor, Hochul is generally expected to lead the democratic party in New York, making her backing of a mayoral candidate rather standard.

However, Mamdani’s specific brand of democratic socialism is largely unappealing in various regions, causing complications for Hochul’s support.

Jay Jacobs, a leader in the State Democratic Party and an ally of Hochul, declared his refusal to support Mamdani.

Mamdani, who has served one term as a member of parliament, was previously at odds with Hochul until last year.

During a speech to the UJA Union last year, Hochul humorously mentioned the possibility of erasing Canada if it attacked New York, but she condemned Hamas following the October 7 attacks on Israel.

“If Canada were to strike Buffalo, let’s just say, there would be no more Canada,” she quipped.

Mamdani faced backlash following a statement where he criticized Hochul for her earlier comments on social media.

He contended, “Governor Hochul justifies genocide. It’s sickening,” regarding her statements on the video.

An insider suggested that Mamdani’s choice to not reciprocate Hochul’s support indicates that the candidates, including those in the democratic socialist alliance, have solidified their standing within the party.

Mamdani’s success in mobilizing younger voters was crucial in his primary victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo back in June.

“I was shocked by her support, yet he didn’t return the favor,” Cuomo remarked on Hochul’s backing on Tuesday.

“To me, these endorsements don’t hold much weight.”

Another Democratic source pointed out that Mamdani’s voting base could be vital for Hochul’s reelection strategy.

“Zohran has a significant advantage. Hochul requires Mamdani’s support to secure a win in New York City next year,” they noted.

Hochul’s campaign indicated that they would be building support in the coming months but avoided addressing Mamdani’s lack of endorsement directly.

Meanwhile, a Siena University poll released on Tuesday showed Hochul leading with 52% of voters against 27% for Stefanik. However, Republican sources disputed the validity of the survey, claiming it overrepresented New York City and underrepresented Republicans.

– Additional reports by Hannah Fierick