Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Governor Kathy Hochul officially endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor over the weekend, putting an end to months of speculation about whether she would back the young Democratic Socialist front-runner despite their political differences.

But as support continues to coalesce behind Mamdani as the Democratic Party nominee, President Donald Trump appeared to renew his threats to target NYC under a Mamdani mayoralty.

In a Truth Social post, Trump denounced Hochul’s backing of Mamdani and reissued a thinly veiled threat that the city’s federal funding could be at risk if Mamdani wins in November. “Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has Endorsed the ‘Liddle’ Communist,’ Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York. This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City. How can such a thing happen? Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad!” he wrote.

In June, the president similarly slammed Mamdani and suggested that the city’s federal funding could be at risk depending on how he runs City Hall. One month later, Trump floated a federal takeover of the city. “If he does get in, I’m gonna be president and he’s gonna have to do the right thing or they’re not getting any money. He’s gotta do the right thing,” Trump said during a Fox News interview.

Hochul’s public endorsement of Mamdani comes after the governor opted against immediately backing the Queens assemblymember following his decisive win in the June primary. In an editorial in the New York Times, the governor made it clear that while she and Mamdani did not perfectly align on every issue, she believes he’s the candidate best suited for the job.

“In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements. But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support,” Hochul wrote.

In her editorial, Hochul pointed to the effects of Trump’s second term and the need for the city to have a strong leader to stand up to Trump, claiming that he has gutted Medicaid and weakened the economy. The governor also appeared to allude to reports of the president’s behind-the-scenes influence on the race, including reporting from the New York Times that top Trump aides were in conversations with people close to Eric Adams about a potential job for the incumbent mayor with the goal of creating a one-on-one race between Mamdani and former governor Andrew Cuomo.

Mamdani thanked Hochul for her support on social media Sunday, writing, “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. I look forward to the great work we will accomplish together. Our movement is only growing stronger.”

While Hochul has come around on Mamdani, several notable New York Democratic leaders have yet to throw their support behind their party’s nominee for mayor. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have both met with Mamdani since his primary win, but neither leader has moved to endorse him in the months since.

Recently, Mamdani gained the support of New York representative Pat Ryan and Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the latter of whom condemned the hesitancy of some in his party to support Mamdani.

“That kind of spineless politics is what people are sick of. They need to get behind him and get behind him now,” Van Hollen told a crowd during an event in Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday.

A spokesman for Jeffries signaled that an endorsement decision will likely be forthcoming and also took a parting shot at Van Hollen for his criticism. “Leader Hakeem Jeffries will have more to say about the general election well in advance of Nov. 4,” Jeffries spokesman Justin Chermol said in a statement. “Meanwhile, confused New Yorkers are asking themselves the question: Chris Van Who?”

From Intelligencer - Daily News, Politics, Business, and Tech via this RSS feed