Gov. Hochul Sunday endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City, saying that she sees in the Democratic nominee the strongest partner to take on President Trump in a New York Times opinion piece explaining how she came around.
Hochul, among the state’s top Democrats, had until now held back her nod amid concern in the party over Mamdani’s more progressive agenda.
“[I]n light of the abhorrent and destructive policies coming out of Washington every day, I needed to know the next mayor will not be someone who would surrender one inch to President Trump,” Hochul wrote in the op-ed.
“Mr. Mamdani and I will both be fearless in confronting the president’s extreme agenda — with urgency, conviction and the defiance that defines New York. And we must never allow Mr. Trump to control our city like the king he wants to be. Anyone who accepts his tainted influence or benefits from it is compromised from the start.”
Hochul is one of several leading Democrats, including Sens. Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries who to now have generally steered clear of commenting on the contentious mayoral race — and is the first of those three to break her silence.
Throughout the piece, Hochul reiterated that she and the democratic-socialist upstart have their differences, but expressed that he is the best one for the job of mayor in light of the president’s divisive national policies and targeting of NYC in particular, including threats to send in the National Guard.
“Some will say Mr. Mamdani and I are unlikely allies: a mom governor from Buffalo and a 33-year-old assemblyman from Queens. To me, that’s the beauty of this moment. What New Yorkers deserve right now is not grievances or grudges, but steely resolve to fight like hell,” Hochul wrote.
Mamdani is facing off against incumbent Mayor Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both running as independents, and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa. Most polls show Mamdani with a healthy lead over the field.
In her endorsement Hochul did not mention her former boss, Cuomo, whom Mamdani beat in the Democratic primary. Cuomo stepped down from the governorship after several women accused him of sexual harassment, allegations he denies.
Originally Published: September 14, 2025 at 10:14 PM EDT
