California Rep. Ro Khanna endorses Zohran Mamdani for New York mayor
July 17 (UPI) -- California Democratic congressional lawmaker Ro Khanna announced on Fox & Friends Thursday morning that he will endorse Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York.
"He spent a lot of time talking about the cost of living in New York, in this country, and how we address it," Khanna said. He said Mamdani is a "very charismatic, relatable person."
Host Lawrence B. Jones asked Khanna if he agrees with Mamdani's views on Israel. Mamdani has said that if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to New York, he'd have him arrested.
He answered that he doesn't agree with Mamdani on every issue. He argued that the Democratic party should focus more on the working class. It should work to raise wages and have a more economically populist agenda.
Since Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor, he's been seeking endorsements from higher-ranking progressives. Khanna fits that bill.
The endorsement came after a breakfast meeting in New York hosted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., where Mamdani met with a variety of Democratic representatives.
Other endorsements Mamdani has gained include: Reps. Jerry Nadler,D-N.Y., and Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y. Espaillat initially endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo on Monday formally announced he is running as an independent for mayor, three weeks after he lost to Mamdani.
Former Mayor Eric Adams announced last month that he will also run as an independent.
Mamdani is expected to meet soon with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., The Hill reported.
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Former Mayor Fiorello La Guardia created the first public market network and several still remain today. Under Bloomberg, one such market—Essex Market—was rezoned and relocated to a new, modern space. Cohen said Bloomberg and Mamdani's plans "are not just similar. They actually had the same underlying goal." Cohen said, "Bloomberg very much intervened in the market" and sent an old advertisement of Bloomberg, dressed as a nanny, labeled, "You only thought you lived in the land of the free." Quinn also notes that many of Bloomberg's plans faced resistance, but once implemented, became part of the city's fabric. "What is radical on Monday often becomes widespread by Wednesday," Quinn said.
