Lefty firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed fellow Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani on Thursday as her pick for New York City mayor.
“Assembly member Mamdani has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack,” the congresswoman told the New York Times as she revealed her preferred slate in the June 24 primary.
“In the final stretch of the race, we need to get very real about that.”
AOC endorses Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for mayor of NYC. AP
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez makes decision on who to endorse for NYC mayor. Luiz Rampelotto/ZUMA / SplashNews.comAOC’s backing could prove to be a huge boost for the 33-year-old Queens Assemblyman — potentially closing the gap between him and frontrunner, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in the crowded primary race.
“In 2018, AOC shocked the world and changed our politics for the better with her historic victory,” Mamdani in the wake of the endorsement. “On June 24, we will do the same.”
Mamdani, who has been the talk of the town since pulling off a historic grassroots fundraising and canvassing effort, has zeroed in on young, white, ultra-left New Yorkers in his bid to become mayor.
Democratic mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo, left, shakes hands with Zohran Mamdani, center, as Whitney Tilson reacts after participating in a Democratic mayoral primary debate. APAfter Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez plans to rank City Council speaker Adrienne Adams second and city comptroller Brad Lander third.
Lander, for his part, tried to take a victory lap off the back of AOC’s support — blasting out a tweet saying: “Proud to have @aoc’s support in our fight for a safer, more affordable, and better-run city for all New Yorkers.”
The endorsement is a slight to the Lander camp, which had been lobbying for the Queens firebrand’s nod.
Mamdani has repeatedly outflanked the current comptroller on the left, cutting into a key coalition Lander had looked to assemble in the primary.
AOC even ranked Lander lower than the Working Families Party slate, which listed Mamdani as their first pick, the comptroller as second and Adams as third.
“Someone should conduct a wellness check on Brad,” quipped one Democratic operative.
In 2021, Ocasio-Cortez’s backing provided Maya Wiley a massive surge in the polls, nearly doubling her support and elevating her to second place only to Eric Adams.
It is yet to be seen if the endorsement from AOC in 2025 comes with the same boost.
