Frustrations within the Democratic Party over whether to back Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s leading mayoral candidate, are spilling out into the open as the establishment splits over supporting a Democratic Socialist.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) weighed in on the crowded New York City mayoral race over the weekend, endorsing the socialist candidate and Democratic nominee Mamdani in a New York Times op-ed, sparking sharp criticism from New York Republicans. Hochul is running for a second term as New York’s governor.
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Still, many Democrats have shied away from endorsing Mamdani for his socialist policies, but Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) told the Washington Examiner that the party will “come around” to the young Democrat as the election nears, describing him as a “very smart, funny, and humane candidate.”
“Donald Trump has been engaging in some absurd vilification of Mamdani,” Raskin told the Washington Examiner. “He’s been falsely defaming him as a communist, which is not only a slander, but it’s also comical, given that Donald Trump’s favorite rulers in the world are communists.”
“Now I’m not a socialist,” Raskin added. “I consider myself an FDR-style, New Deal Democrat and a Teddy Roosevelt-style trustbuster, but Mamdani’s Democratic socialism doesn’t scare me for one minute compared to Donald Trump’s politics.”
Hochul’s endorsement was notable not only for her stature as governor but for once serving alongside Mamdani’s challenger, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Her backing, however, did not immediately break the dam and usher in more establishment Democratic Party support.
“Mr. Mamdani and I will both be fearless in confronting the president’s extreme agenda — with urgency, conviction, and the defiance that defines New York,” Hochul wrote in her endorsement.
“And we must never allow Mr. Trump to control our city like the king he wants to be. Anyone who accepts his tainted influence or benefits from it is compromised from the start,” she continued.
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Mamdani, 33, has gained a large base of support from the left flank of the Democratic Party, leaving many party leaders and centrists in a tough spot.
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) posted on X Monday that he would not endorse Mamdani following Hochul’s support.
“While I share his concern about the issue of affordability, I fundamentally disagree about his proposed solutions,” wrote Suozzi, who represents a swing district. “Like the voters I represent, I believe socialism has consistently failed to deliver real, sustainable progress.”
Members like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have shown frustration with Democratic leadership in both the House and the Senate for dodging an endorsement in the race, despite his lead in the polls and securing the Democratic Party’s nomination.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are both from New York City and have yet to endorse Mamdani. Their path back to congressional power runs through winning swing districts and states in the 2026 midterm elections, where a connection to a Democratic Socialist would be politically toxic.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), another supporter of Mamdani, called out members who have stayed on the sidelines in this race “spineless,” leading to a heated response from Jeffries’ office.
“That kind of spineless politics is what people are sick of,” Van Hollen said at a Democratic fundraiser last weekend. “They need to get behind him, and get behind him now.”
Justin Chermol, Jeffries’s spokesman, clapped back at Van Holen, saying, “Meanwhile, confused New Yorkers are asking themselves the question: Chris Van Who?”
Many New York House Republicans slammed Hochul on X following her endorsement. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) said, “The worst Governor in America is endorsing what will be the worst Mayor in America.” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) claimed the governor would “rather destroy New York than lose power.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, expected to run against Hochul in a gubernatorial bid, expressed her disapproval on Sid & Friends In The Morning.
“Kathy Hochul is an absolute disgrace,” Stefanik said. “My phone has been ringing off the hook with people who are appalled that she has made this decision to embrace every radical position he stands for. It’s bad for New York City. It’s bad for New York State. And people are going to hold her accountable next November.”
President Donald Trump has the same sentiment, as he called out Hochul in a Truth Social post.
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“Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has endorsed the ‘Liddle’ Communist,’ Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York,” Trump said. “This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City. How can such a thing happen? Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad!”
According to a range of pollsters posted by The New York Times, Mamdani is leading Cuomo by double digits as he rallies a younger base in the state. The polls show that the Republican candidate is third, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is fourth. Mamdani won the Democratic primary over Cuomo, which shocked the traditional political system.