AOC Endorses Mamdani for NYC Mayor Ahead June Primary

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez officially endorsed Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, positioning him as the leading progressive challenger to former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Highlighting Mamdani's ability to unite working-class New Yorkers, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the need for a consolidated progressive front in the upcoming June 24 Democratic primary to prevent Cuomo's return to power. She notably excluded Cuomo from her ranked-choice ballot, instead ranking City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams second, City Comptroller Brad Lander third, former Comptroller Scott Stringer fourth, and Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie fifth. Recent polling shows Mamdani significantly closing the gap with Cuomo, narrowing Cuomo’s lead to under 10 points when factoring in ranked-choice preferences. This endorsement marks a strategic effort to unify fractured progressives who are wary of Cuomo's ties to hedge funds and his moderate political stance. With the primary approaching, Ocasio-Cortez's backing could prove pivotal in consolidating progressive voters behind Mamdani to challenge Cuomo’s frontrunner status.