Kathy Hochul sidesteps question about plans to endorse Mamdani in NYC mayoral race

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul sidestepped a question about whether she plans to endorse socialist Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayor’s race during a Tuesday interview.

When asked about whether she is going to back Mamdani in the city’s general election, Hochul told New York Magazine that she has “some areas of disagreement” with the democratic socialist. Still, Hochul added that there are “very strong areas” where she and Mamdani align.

“I can tell you this: I’ve had a number of conversations with him, a number of meetings,” Hochul told the outlet. “There are still some areas of disagreement, but he understands them and why it’s important for me to know that he’s addressing them, whether it’s related to the Jewish community and the business community. But we also have very strong areas of alignment. Affordability is not something that we just started embracing. It’s something I’ve been focused on way before the mayor’s race.”

Hochul added that she plans to work alongside the next New York City mayor as long as they intend to “stand up to” President Donald Trump.

“I announced universal child care in my State of the State address last January,” Hochul said. “I think where we can find alignment is a timetable to get it to happen. We can’t do a $7 billion child-care program in year one. How about over a longer runway, let’s do things in a smart way? Whoever the mayor of New York City is, I will work with them as long as they’re going to stand up to Donald Trump.”

Mamdani, who is now seen as the frontrunner in the New York City mayoral battle, has faced criticism from some elected officials in the Democratic Party over his far-left views, including New York Reps. Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi. Gillen said in a June 25 statement posted to X that Mamdani is “too extreme to lead New York City.”

Some other prominent Democrats have reportedly been reluctant to endorse Mamdani for New York City mayor, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Though, Mamdani has notched some endorsements in the mayoral race, including from Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic New York Rep. Jerry Nadler.

Additionally, some Jewish congressional Democrats have been expressing worries about Mamdani’s win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, The Hill reported in July. Mamdani has also faced criticism for his repeated anti-Israel statements.

An August video from the National Republican Congressional Committee, House Republicans’ campaign arm, claims that Democrats “want to turn America into a socialist, crime-filled dystopia,” and includes footage of Mamdani talking about the “abolition of private property.”

Mamdani’s general election opponents include former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — Hochul’s predecessor whom Mamdani defeated in the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary — as well as incumbent Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Cuomo and Adams are running on independent tickets but both remain registered Democrats.

Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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