Democratic mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani picked up an endorsement Tuesday from a Brooklyn pastor who previously supported Andrew Cuomo in the race for City Hall.
The Mamdani endorsement from Bishop Orlando Findlayter, whose congregation is in East Flatbush, could help Mamdani make inroads with Black, socially conservative Democrats, a constituency from which he’s had some difficulties securing support.
Findlayter was seen as instrumental in lining up African-American support for ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio in the 2013 elections. In an appearance Tuesday afternoon with Mamdani, the pastor said he’s backing him this year in large part due to Mamdani’s commitment to make the city more affordable.
“New York City is an expensive city. Frankly it is a city that we can’t afford,” Findlayter said in an appearance at Medgar Evers College. “That is one of the many reasons I am standing here today to throw my full support behind Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani to be the next mayor.”
Mamdani, who’s polling as the favorite to win the Nov. 4 election against Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, said he was honored by Findlayter’s nod and added that he believes he will “only succeed in City Hall at building a more affordable New York City, at restoring the peoples’ trust in a democracy, and in making our city worthy of the great people who call it home, if I am surrounded by great leaders and advisors myself.”
Findlayter endorsed Cuomo’s bid in the June 28 Democratic mayoral primary that Mamdani won by a nearly 13% margin.
Cuomo’s now running as an independent in next month’s general election, polling as the runner-up to Mamdani.
In a statement co-signed with dozens of other faith leaders, Findlayter had said during the primary that he was backing Cuomo because his “leadership reflects the values we hold close: uplifting the marginalized, fighting for equity, and building a city where every person has the chance to thrive.”
Asked for comment on Findlayter’s Tuesday announcement, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi noted some community and religious leaders who previously supported Mamdani have now come around to backing Cuomo, including Fahad Solaiman, a Queens imam. Azzopardi also noted the ex-governor was last weekend endorsed by more than 70 faith leaders from all five boroughs.
