Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City, aligning the progressive left with a candidate who has built his campaign on grassroots support.

“Zohran doesn’t just speak truth to power—he organizes to build it from the ground up. His campaign isn’t just about policies, it’s about a vision for a city where every New Yorker, no matter their zip code, can thrive,” Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times.

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Polling shows that Mamdani, 33, who is campaigning on promises to make city buses free, freeze rent increases on rent-stabilized apartments, and implement a $10 billion tax hike on the wealthy, is polling second behind former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021.  

Mamdani faces a huge rival in Cuomo, who leads in the polls as a more centrist Democrat. Ocasio-Cortez, a champion for left-wing causes, shared with the New York Times how crucial it is for progressive Democrats to rally behind Mamdani.  

“If we want transformative change, we need a mayor who can reach beyond our base and bring others along with us,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “Zohran can be that bridge.”

Left-wing strategists stress that to win under the ranked choice system, it’s critical that progressive Democratic voters coalesce around aligned candidates early in their rankings — a strategy Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement helped advance. Both Ocasio-Cortez and the Working Families Party have closely aligned their ranked choices, having both ranked Mamdani at the top of their list.

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Mamdani has already reached the legal campaign fundraising limits, an indicator of the passionate backing he’s received from small-dollar donors across the city. 

However, Mamdani’s candidacy is not without controversy. His vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, where he has accused the Israeli government of committing genocide, has led to concerns among segments of the Jewish community. 

Still, Mamdani has made inroads among black and Latino working-class communities, notably cutting into Cuomo’s early lead in neighborhoods where progressive policy priorities resonate most with voters. 

The Democratic primary will be held on June 24.