Mamdani endorses Hochul in New York gov's reelection bid

Socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has endorsed New York Governor Kathy Hochul in her bid for re-election. Mamdani was endorsed by Hochul during his run for mayor months ago, but he has waited until now to return the favor.

Mamdani explained his reasoning for the endorsement in the left-wing outlet, The Nation. "Those of us entrusted with the sacred oath of service must heed that call and work together to honor it. That requires not the absence of disagreement, but the presence of trust. We must be able to disagree honestly while still delivering for the people we serve. Over the past 6 months, Governor Hochul and I have done exactly that," he said.

Mamdani said that he has "come to trust Governor Hochul as someone willing to engage in an honest dialogue that leads to results." Hochul, who has been seen as more moderate on policy than Mamdani, has recently caved to similar messaging that Mamdani ran on during his campaign, including the expansion of free childcare in New York City.

The New York City mayor went on to claim that the Democratic Party is a "big tent" party, that “channels conflict toward progress."

"A party united not by conformity, but by a commitment to structural change — and to the work required to achieve it. I’ve seen a model of what that can look like in my collaboration with Governor Hochul: a relationship built on candor, a shared commitment to government that is equal parts competent and trustworthy, and results that working people can feel in their day-to-day lives," Mamdani added.

"New Yorkers deserve leaders who believe in transformation. Leaders who understand that hope is inspired by a vision and sustained by change. Governor Kathy Hochul has earned my endorsement because she has chosen to govern in that spirit. And in this moment, that choice matters," he later said in the piece.

When Mamdani was running his campaign, he made repeated calls for increasing taxes on millionaires in New York, but Hochul said she opposed any income tax increase. The disagreements and others fueled what appeared to be a deep rift between the two after Mamdani refused to return the favor of endorsing Hochul in September.

The rift between the two politicians has appeared to lessen as Mamdani has assumed his role as mayor, and the two have coordinated on multiple policy proposals.