In many ways, the two are opposite sides of the Democratic Party’s big tent. But Hochul and Mamdani need each other.
Zoran Mamdani to take office with bold policies for New York City
Ahead of Inauguration Day, Zoran Mamdani’s plans for New York City signal changes with national implications, USA TODAY’s Dan Morrison reports.
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has endorsed fellow Democrat Kathy Hochul’s re-election as governor.
A few months ago, Hochul, a moderate from Buffalo, endorsed Mamdani in the 2025 mayoral race. Now Mamdani, the democratic socialist who led the country’s largest city in a shock victory, has returned the favor by calling on Big Apple voters to elect Hochul in November.
“New Yorkers deserve a leader who believes in change,” Mamdani, a former state lawmaker, wrote in a Feb. 5 essay in The Nation. “Leaders who understand that hope is inspired by vision and sustained by change. Governor Kathy Hochul has my support because she chooses to govern in that spirit. And in this moment, that choice matters.”
In many ways, the two are opposite sides of the Democratic Party’s big tent. But this support is key for Mr. Hochul to gain support from Mr. Mamdani’s left-wing base of the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Mamdani will need Hochul to deliver on some of his far-reaching campaign promises, including universal child care and free express buses.
In his essay, Mamdani acknowledged significant political differences with the governor. But Mamdani pointed to a recent agreement with Hochul to expand child care to New Yorkers. He said the agreement, which leverages state funding to expand the city’s child care program, shows the two sides can work together.
“We’re providing child care to every family in New York, but we’re just getting started,” Hochul said in an X post. “We look forward to our continued partnership to make New York City more affordable, invest in public safety, and fight back against Trump.”
Mamdani’s support is important even in Democratic-leaning states. Mr. Hochul will need significant turnout in the five boroughs, which are much more blue than the Republican-leaning areas of upstate New York and Long Island. The progressive and left-wing wing of the Democratic Party, especially in New York City, has at times embraced Hochul for her moderate political stance and unwillingness to tax the city’s high earners.
Hochul’s 2022 election was a surprisingly narrow victory over Lee Zeldin, a Long Island Republican who currently heads President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency.
Hochul is being opposed in the primary by current lieutenant governor Antonio Delgado from the left. Mr. Delgado’s campaign did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Delgado’s running mate for lieutenant governor, India Walton, a Democratic Socialist from Buffalo, called supporting Mamdani a “bad deal” even with good intentions.
“We have no plans to tax the wealthy with one-time childcare commitments drawn from the reserve, and donors come first. We should tax the super-rich and corporations and fund universal childcare in the budget. It’s not enough money to sit on your couch,” Walton told X.
In addition to his primary challenge, Hochul also faces a general election race against Republican Bruce Blakeman, executive chairman of suburban Nassau County on Long Island.
“Everyone knows that Kathy Hochul entered into a secret agreement with Zoran Mamdani to gain sudden support,” Blakeman said in a statement. “Was it about raising taxes to fill a budget gap? Was it about closing prisons and putting criminals back on the streets? Was it about threatening private property and promoting the government’s big socialist agenda of putting the government in control of our families? Whatever the deal, hard-working men and women are going to pay the price.”
The day before, Mr. Hochul announced the selection of former New York City Council President Adrian Adams as Mr. Delgado’s successor as lieutenant governor. Mr. Adams is a moderate Democrat who ran for mayor of New York before supporting Mr. Mamdani in the general election.
Hochul’s announcement of Adams shocked some New York Democrats. On February 5, the state’s largest Democratic party, the Brooklyn Democratic Party, announced it was withdrawing its support for Hochul — just one day after endorsing her.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Contact us via email (emcuevas1@usatoday.com) or Signal (emcuevas.01).
