Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly endorsed New York City Councilman Zohran Mamdani for mayor, boosting his chances ahead of the Democratic Party primary being held later this month. She made her endorsement during an interview with the New York Times, which was released a day after the first debate between primary candidates was held Wednesday (June 4).
“Assemblymember Mamdani has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “In the final stretch of the race, we need to get very real about that.” Her comments underscored the situation that the progressive candidate Mamdani faces; he currently trails behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in polling, which has many in the city concerned that a repeat of 2021 could occur where the left were fractured, affecting the ranked-choice outcome in favor of current Mayor Eric Adams.
“Even if the entire left coalesced around any one candidate, an ideological coalition is still insufficient for us to win,” the Ocasio-Cortez stated. “We have to have a true working-class coalition.” Ocasio-Cortez’s other ranked choice endorsements were to rank City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams second, citing her “genuine inroads and connections” with the Black and Brown communities in Queens and the Bronx including her district. City Comptroller Brad Lander would be ranked third on her ballot, followed by Scott Stringer and Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie.
Mamdani learned of the endorsement shortly after the debate ended. “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a once-in-a-generation leader who has led the fight for working people in Congress. In 2018, she shocked the world and transformed our politics. On June 24, with @AOC’s support and this movement behind us, we will do the same,” he said in a statement. It comes at a time where supporters of Cuomo are zeroing in on areas they feel Mamdani is vulnerable, such as his public support of the Palestinian people in Gaza as well as his past support for shrinking the police force and his self-identification as a socialist.
AOC Endorses Zohran Mamdani For NYC Mayor
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