Mayor Mamdani endorsed Gov. Hochul in an op-ed on Thursday, lending the governor progressive support as she seeks re-election.
The endorsement, in a piece in progressive magazine The Nation, is a message to his left-leaning supporters that, despite Hochul’s moderate politics, she’s their best hope for following through on his democractic socialist agenda.
“Together, we have forged a new era in the relationship between Albany and City Hall after too many years defined by pettiness instead of productivity,” Mamdani wrote. “At a moment of crisis, we chose a different path. We respected one another’s perspectives and committed to the idea that government should, and must, work — even when it’s hard.”
The endorsement comes after Mamdani prodded Hochul in his budget announcement last week to raise taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents and corporations, arguing it was necessary to meet a possible $12.6 billion city shortfall. Hochul has stood firmly against raising taxes on millionaires and billionaires.
Mamdani noted several times in the piece the two have disagreements — but praised Hochul’s standing against President Trump on infrastructure programs, immigration crackdowns and social services.
And he thanked her for her pledge to help the city establish free child care for 2-year-olds, a major step toward implementing one of Mamdani’s central campaign promises.
“The temptation is to allow difference to turn into distrust,” he said. “But over the course of our relationship, I have come to trust Governor Hochul as someone willing to engage in an honest dialogue that leads to results.”
The governor endorsed Mamdani’s mayoral bid in September, after his defeat of Andrew Cuomo in the June Democratic primary and after the two talked extensively over the summer.
His endorsement of her, which comes a day before the state Democratic convention in Syracuse, also deals a blow to Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who’s running a primary challenge to Hochul from the left. Delgado this week announced former Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton as his running mate. Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive, is running to be her Republican opponent.
Hochul on Wednesday announced Adrienne Adams, the former New York City Council speaker, will be her running mate, creating the first all-women major party ticket in the state’s history.
