Why Hochul won't back Mamdani in NYC mayoral race

Yahoo

a day ago

The Brief
Gov. Kathy Hochul declined to endorse Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, citing key policy differences.
Mamdani's progressive tax and spending plans conflict with Hochul's more centrist economic stance.
Despite Hochul's silence and criticism from Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani has earned endorsements from top national and local Democrats.
NEW YORK - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is refusing to back Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, despite his public praise for her and his position as the party's official candidate.
During a recent appearance on Fox News, Hochul declined to back Mamdani directly. Instead, she emphasized her willingness to work with "whoever the voters elect," pointing to her past cooperation with multiple mayors.
While she agreed with Mamdani's emphasis on affordability, she stopped short of embracing his broader progressive agenda.
Mamdani, a self-identified Democratic socialist, has proposed bold policies such as raising taxes on millionaires and corporations to fund subsidized child care, free public buses, affordable housing, and state-run grocery stores. These positions have clashed with Hochul's more moderate fiscal stance. While Mamdani has credited Hochul for standing up to former President Trump during national redistricting fights, the feeling does not appear mutual.
Mamdani's rent-stabilized apartment
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Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo has also seized the moment to criticize Mamdani. Speaking during the Dominican Day Parade, Cuomo called out Mamdani for living in a rent-stabilized apartment in Queens. He argued that such units should be reserved for low-income residents, not for "the children of millionaires," and floated a proposal he's dubbed "Zohran's Law," which would restrict rent-stabilized housing eligibility.
Mamdani's camp responded swiftly, accusing Cuomo of hypocrisy and deflection. A spokesperson for Mamdani slammed Cuomo for the state spending $60 million on his personal legal defense, arguing that the money could instead be used to fund thousands of affordable housing units.
NYC mayoral campaign latest
What's next
Unfazed, Mamdani continues to build momentum.
He kicked off a week-long tour titled "Five Boroughs Against Trump," spotlighting what he calls the Trump administration's harmful policies toward working-class New Yorkers, immigrants and the healthcare system. He's expected to be joined by several key local Democrats during the events.
Who's already endorsed Mamdani?
While Hochul holds back, Mamdani has already secured endorsements from progressive heavyweights and New York power players:
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams
Rep. Jerry Nadler
Rep. Nydia Velázquez
Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander
Whether Hochul eventually joins that list, or continues to keep her distance, remains a key question in a race that's dividing Democrats across the ideological spectrum.