“Democrats are in a state of panic over Zohran Mamdani’s surprising victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, with concerns that he may be detrimental to the party but also fears of potential primary challenges if they do not endorse him,” sources told The Post.
Congressional Democrats are worried that Mamdani’s supporters may field opponents against incumbents, such as Reps. Dan Goldman, Jerry Nadler, Grace Meng, and Adriano Espaillat, making them potential targets, a New York Democratic source revealed on Monday.
“It’s not just hesitancy, it’s absolute panic and fear – the fear that they are not only burdened with Governor Kathy Hochul’s poor polling numbers, but now also have to contend with the negative impact of Zohran Mamdani in the outer boroughs and suburbs,” the source explained.
Hochul and other Democratic leaders find themselves in a dilemma, as many have refrained from publicly endorsing the mayoral nominee even a week after his victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo by 70,000 votes in the first round of the ranked-choice primary.
Mamdani’s unexpected win has attracted national attention, sparking discussions about a new left-wing political movement in New York City and beyond.
While several top Democrats have praised Mamdani for his focus on affordability, many have been hesitant to endorse him, including the governor.
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Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who remained neutral in the primary, mentioned that Mamdani’s campaign has reached out to set up a meeting with him.
“I’ve seen the slogans,” he told The Post.
The endorsement of Mamdani by the city’s Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, consisting of 300 unions and 1 million members, is a significant development that could have a major impact on Queens. This endorsement is a blow to both Cuomo and Adams, as Mamdani’s primary win has garnered strong support from the labor community.
Political consultant John Tomlin has pointed out that Mamdani’s controversial comments about “globalizing the intifada” have created challenges in gaining support from certain groups. Despite Mamdani not being seen as a hateful person, defending such statements can be difficult, especially when they are hurtful to Jewish New Yorkers.
Tomlin also highlighted the potential strategy of the Republican Party to portray Mamdani as a “bogeyman” in an attempt to undermine Democrats nationwide. This tactic has been used in the past against figures like former mayor Bill de Blasio and is likely to continue with Mamdani and other Democratic candidates.
It is clear that Mamdani’s candidacy will face scrutiny and opposition, but the support he has garnered from labor unions could play a crucial role in his efforts to bring tangible benefits to Queens.
— Additional reporting by Carl Campanile, Ryan King, and Steven Vago
