NEW YORK — Last month, Morris Katz, a prominent adviser to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, took a discreet trip across the pond to the United Kingdom. His mission? To engage with local progressive politicians and share insights from his experiences as a young strategist.
This excursion coincided with the emergence of a new left-wing challenge to the beleaguered Labour government, notably marked by the Green Party’s capture of a parliamentary seat in the Manchester area during a special election in February.
Katz, who played a pivotal role in Mamdani’s surprising electoral victory last year, confirmed to POLITICO that his journey into British political territory was part of what he describes as a global political struggle. He was there to lend his expertise to members of the U.K.’s Labour and Green parties, helping them devise effective campaign strategies.
“The battle against the combined forces of oligarchy and the far right is a worldwide endeavor, and I’m eager to assist wherever possible,” the 26-year-old progressive strategist remarked about his trip.
During his visit, Katz met with several key figures, including Labour MPs Rosie Wrighting and Gordon McKee, as well as Rowenna Davis, a Labour politician vying for the mayoralty of Croydon in South London. Katz noted that it was the Labour and Green operatives who reached out to him, requesting his presence for these discussions.
Mamdani has become something of a political symbol for progressive movements beyond U.S. borders, including in the U.K. and Canada. This outreach to Katz underscores how leftist factions globally are eyeing Mamdani’s campaign strategies as models worth emulating, reflecting a growing sentiment among parts of the American left to view themselves as part of an international coalition.
Since returning home, Katz has continued to engage with members of both parties virtually and anticipates further discussions with Green leadership in the near future.
In his meetings in the U.K., Katz focused on strategy and messaging techniques, with British politicians eager to absorb his insights. He has garnered a reputation for crafting viral social media content that highlights progressive policy solutions to pressing issues like childcare affordability.
Katz clarified that his engagements in the U.K. were voluntary and that he has no immediate plans to run campaigns there, primarily due to his commitments to the upcoming U.S. congressional midterms. However, he remains open to potential paid collaborations with progressives in the future, hinting at the prospect of this key Mamdani adviser evolving into an international political consultant.
He wouldn’t be the first American progressive to lend a hand to British counterparts; advisers to Senator Bernie Sanders previously assisted former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during his unsuccessful 2017 campaign for prime minister.
While the connections between political landscapes can be intricate, Mamdani’s dynamic campaigning style might generate enthusiasm beyond New York. However, it remains uncertain whether all the British politicians he met share his ideological vision. Wrighting and McKee, though active on platforms like TikTok, are entrenched in mainstream Labour politics.
Requests for comments from spokespeople for the Green and Labour parties regarding their meetings with Katz went unanswered.
The Labour Party recently suffered a significant loss in a parliamentary by-election, thanks in part to the Green Party’s candidate, Hannah Spencer. At just 34, Spencer has highlighted the importance of addressing the escalating cost-of-living crisis, a message she argues can resonate with voters.
“We ran an optimistic campaign supported by thousands of volunteers and activists. We triumphed over parties backed by billionaires,” Spencer declared in a recent op-ed in The Guardian.
Sound familiar?
Mamdani himself defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in last summer’s mayoral primary, focusing his campaign on proposals aimed at making New York more affordable for its working-class citizens.
Following recent electoral setbacks, U.K. left-leaning parties, particularly Labour, may view Mamdani’s message as a model for future campaigns—hence, Katz’s involvement.
Katz, who identifies as a staunch advocate for populist politics, is credited with driving Mamdani’s campaign’s concentrated message, which promises to create a more affordable city through increased taxes on the wealthy to expand social safety nets, including free public transport and childcare programs. While he hasn’t formally joined Mamdani’s administration, he is closely associated with the mayor and continues to provide counsel on governmental and political matters, even participating in high-profile meetings with figures like President Donald Trump.
“The Brits could certainly use a dose of excitement in their political landscape,” remarked Doug Muzzio, a seasoned political scientist in New York, when asked for his thoughts on Katz’s U.K. endeavors. “If Mamdani’s engaging style can be successfully adapted there, it could be quite welcome.”
advised Albania’s opposition party after his 2024 White House bid. Bob Shrum, a former Democratic presidential candidate adviser, has worked with Israel’s Ehud Barak and the British Labour Party under Tony Blair. Veteran strategist James Carville has also lent his expertise in over 20 countries, including advising Blair.
“When a person gets elected and they like you, someone will say, ‘Hey, someone from such and such called us,’ and they’ll recommend people. It’s a networking thing,” Carville noted. “The perception is our political consultants are better than they actually are.”
However, Katz’s foray into international advisory work may reveal more about Mamdani’s growing influence than about Katz himself. As Carville pointed out, “He’s an object of curiosity.” Just as former President Bill Clinton’s popularity abroad boosted Carville’s prospects, Mamdani and his team are drawing interest from international allies.
“Many have hired me just to say they got Clinton’s guy,” Carville added.
Currently, the appetite for progressive insights is palpable across Europe. Just last month, the Munich Security Conference welcomed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who linked income inequality to the global rise of authoritarianism during her address.
“Voters in democracies across Europe and beyond are reacting to many of the same issues that American voters are facing,” said Matt Duss, who advised Ocasio-Cortez during her Munich appearance and serves as executive vice president at the progressive think tank Center for International Policy. “They see a governmental system that has not been responsive to their needs, captured by special interests.”
Duss, who formerly served as foreign policy adviser to Bernie Sanders, noted that there’s a global longing for that distinct brand of progressivism.
“I do think Bernie has inspired many allies in other democracies. Mamdani is a name that resonates with our European colleagues on the left,” Duss observed. “People are watching and learning from one another. American progressives have much to gain from observing how our European counterparts innovate, and vice versa.”
However, going global carries its own set of challenges.
Take, for instance, Ocasio-Cortez’s mixed reception in Munich, where her on-camera gaffes—ranging from mislabeling the Trans-Atlantic partnership as the Trans-Pacific Partnership to erroneously identifying Venezuela’s geographical location—were widely circulated on social media. Nevertheless, local leaders were more welcoming than the online commentary suggested.
If Katz were to delve further into U.K. politics, he might not do so solo. He is a co-founder of Fight Agency, a consulting firm comprising numerous veterans of the American progressive movement who could potentially assist him on international projects. Among them is Rebecca Katz, who, although not related, has a successful track record managing congressional campaigns and formerly served in the administration of former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Rebecca Katz did not provide a comment for this article.
Domestically, Katz’s international ventures were not without complications for one candidate in his roster.
“It was quite challenging to communicate with him and his team during January and February since he was abroad,” noted Nathan Sage, a former Iowa Senate candidate and Katz’s client who withdrew from the race in mid-February. “I have no idea what he’s doing, but I can attest that it made things difficult.”
Despite this, Sage expressed that he would recommend Katz’s firm to others.
John Johnston contributed to this report.
