New York governor endorses Mamdani for mayor, saying they discussed antisemitism

NEW YORK — New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday endorsed the US state’s Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for mayor, in a major boost for the harsh Israel critic’s campaign.

Hochul is a moderate Democrat and a firm supporter of Israel, while Mamdani, 33, is on the far left and has made harsh criticism of Israel central to his politics.

Mamdani won the Democratic party mayoral primary earlier this year, making him the heavy favorite to win November’s general election in the mostly Democratic city.

His leading opponent in the general election is former governor Andrew Cuomo, another pro-Israel moderate and Hochul’s predecessor. Hochul was Cuomo’s lieutenant governor, who took the mantle when Cuomo resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations. The two have had a testy relationship. Mamdani defeated Cuomo in the primary in a stunning upset.

Hochul, announcing her Mamdani endorsement in The New York Times, said she has been speaking with Mamdani for months, including about Jewish issues.

“We discussed the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally,” Hochul said. “I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly. I look forward to working together to make sure New Yorkers of all faiths feel safe and welcome in New York City.”

Mamdani said in a statement: “I’m grateful for the Governor’s support in unifying our party, her resolve in standing up to Trump, and her focus on making New York affordable.”

Antisemitism is a concern for New York leaders because Jews are targeted in hate crimes in New York City far more than any other group. New York City is home to the largest Jewish community in the world outside Israel.

Mamdani is divisive among Jewish voters. He was the leading candidate among Jews in the four-way race, with around 37 percent support, according to a July poll by the pro-Israel New York Solidarity Network. That figure is similar to his support among the non-Jewish population.

While 60% of Jews were opposed to Mamdani, their support was divided among the other mayoral candidates. Also in the race are Mayor Eric Adams, another pro-Israel moderate, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Slightly more than half of the city’s Jews believe Mamdani is antisemitic, and 58% believe the city will be less safe for Jews if Mamdani is elected, the poll found.

Mamdani’s Jewish allies are mainly far-left Israel critics. The activist group IfNotNow endorsed Mamdani last week and the leftist Jews For Economic and Racial Justice has backed his campaign. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a left-winger who defines himself as a progressive Zionist, is another ally.

Hochul’s endorsement is a major win for Mamdani because she is a moderate Democratic Party veteran, whose backing will likely assuage voters who are concerned about the upstart Mamdani’s far-left politics and policy proposals.

Mamdani has said the Palestinian issue was his reason for entering politics and central to his identity, and has identified as an anti-Zionist.

The day after the October 2023 Hamas onslaught in Israel, Mamdani condemned Israel, as his party, the Democratic Socialists of America, backed a celebratory rally in Times Square. Hochul at the time called the rally “abhorrent and morally repugnant.”

Mamdani has condemned antisemitism, vowed to combat anti-Jewish discrimination, and released plans for countering antisemitism and other hate crimes.

He told Bloomberg news this week that, if elected, he will stop using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Adams ordered the city to use the IHRA definition earlier this year.

Mamdani’s central policy proposals focus on affordability and housing.

Hochul is up for reelection next year. A partnership with Mamdani could boost her support on the left, but open her up for attacks from the right, including on Jewish issues.

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican from upstate New York, is expected to be one of Hochul’s main challengers.

Stefanik lashed Hochul after her endorsement of Mamdani, saying on X: “It was only a matter of time before the Worst Governor in America [Kathy Hochul] would bend the knee to the Communist Antisemite Zohran Mamdani.”

“Kathy Hochul OWNS every radical position,” Stefanik wrote, such as “every heinous pro Hamas antisemitic position.”

Also this week, Mamdani doubled down on his pledge to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Netanyahu visits the city while Mamdani is mayor.

Experts have said the mayor does not have the power to make such an arrest and that it would be illegal to do so, calling the proposal “a publicity stunt.”