Democrats Urged Not to 'Sabotage' Zohran Mamdani's Campaign as NYC Mayoral Candidate's Numbers Rise

Democrats are facing pressure from all sides, including progressive organizations, labor unions and political advocacy groups, not to "sabotage" the campaign of Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist who continues climbing in the polls in his run for New York City mayor.

Since joining the New York City mayoral race in October 2024, after serving in the State Assembly since 2020, Mamdani has picked up endorsements from dozens of prominent lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. He has also earned backing from progressive organizations, such as the New York Working Families Party, Jewish Voice for Peace Action and the United Federation of Teachers.

Still, several key political figures remain hesitant to endorse Mamdani. As a mayoral candidate, he has put forward an ambitious progressive platform that includes raising taxes on the wealthy, creating state-owned grocery stores, freezing rent, and providing free preschool, among other proposals.

A dozen Indivisible chapters, a progressive grassroots organization, sent a letter Wednesday to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Governor Kathy Hochul, and other top Democratic leaders, urging them to formally endorse the democratic socialist, according to reporting by POLITICO.

"If we are to stand up to nefarious and compromised leaders like Eric Adams, we need to do so as a united front," the letter stated. "Now is the time for the party and its leaders to support its nominee and we urge all leaders who are still outstanding in their endorsements to do so immediately."

Additionally, Our Revolution, a political organization founded after Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, launched a petition titled "Tell Dem Leaders: Don't Sabotage Mamdani." It gathered more than 30,000 signatures by Tuesday night.

While several high-profile Democrats have yet to formally endorse Mamdani, New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries told POLITICO he plans to meet with the mayoral candidate next week. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul said her team is "in regular communication" with Mamdani's campaign, according to the publication.

Mamdani will be running against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, whom he outperformed in the primary, receiving more votes than Adams did when he won the mayoral race in 2021, as well as Republican Curtis Sliwa and independents Jim Walden and Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary last month, winning 56% to 44% and securing more than 1 million votes, marking the highest turnout in a mayoral primary since 1989.