Mamdani, Lander Cross-Endorse to Challenge Cuomo

New York City mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander, both progressives, have cross-endorsed each other in a strategic alliance following the final Democratic primary debate and as early voting begins. The candidates urged supporters to rank one another second and not to rank front-runner Andrew Cuomo, aiming to leverage the ranked-choice voting system. Mamdani has surged to second place in most recent polls, while Lander received a boost from a New York Times opinion panel endorsement. This move responds to concerns that past progressive vote-splitting enabled Eric Adams' 2021 victory. Cuomo remains ahead in the polls and has received endorsements from figures such as Michael Bloomberg, despite continued criticism over his record and controversies. The cross-endorsement highlights a coordinated progressive effort to prevent a Cuomo win.