Queens socialist pol announces bid for mayor

Queens Assemblymember and Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani launched his bid for mayor on Wednesday. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach

By Ryan Schwach

Western Queens Assemblymember and Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani officially launched his long-rumored bid for mayor of New York City on Wednesday.

Mamdani, who represents areas of Astoria and Long Island City, announced his campaign via a short video on Wednesday after weeks of rumblings that he was strongly considering a run.

The 33-year-old state elected, who has already secured the backing of the city chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, has been among the most leftist members of the Queens delegation and the state legislature as a whole in the past several years.

He is by far the most progressive candidate in the field for mayor, which already includes fellow Queens legislator Jessica Ramos, Brooklyn representative Zellnor Myrie, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and former Comptroller Scott Stringer.

“New York needs a mayor that gets to work every day, squarely focused on how to make the city more affordable, more livable and more dignified for the working class,” Mamdani told the Eagle on Wednesday. “I believe I can be that mayor, and this can be that campaign.”

However, Mamdani’s generally far-left stances and relative anonymity outside of his progressive Queens district may make his bid for mayor something of a longshot.

Mamdani said he plans to convince other New Yorkers, outside of the DSA and progressive strongholds, that his political identity is right for the city.

“I think that I will reach those voters, and frankly, even voters beyond that coalition, by focusing on the issues that dominate their anxieties about their life,” he said. “There is a much larger coalition that exists across the city than the one that we have seen thus far. While you may not find a majority of New Yorkers identify as socialists, I would say a majority of them believe in the same tenets. Those tenets being that whatever you need to live a dignified life that should be guaranteed to each and every New Yorker.”

Within his own pre-existing coalition, his announcement has already split some hairs in the DSA, who’s members overwhelmingly endorsed him over the weekend even before he made his announcement official.

POLITICO reported Wednesday morning that socialist electeds like Emily Gallagher and Councilmember Tiffany Cabán, who shares some of Mamdani’s constituents, expressed hesitance towards the DSA endorsing Mamdani, worrying he could be seen as a spoiler in the race which could harm other DSA-electeds’ relationships with colleagues.

Cabán said in a statement to the outlet that she would be “extremely thoughtful” about making an endorsement in the mayor’s race.

“I am looking to earn the endorsement of every elected official across the city, and I believe that it is my job and my responsibility to build a campaign that is worthy of that belief and worthy of that endorsement,” Mamdani said.

Mamdani’s support within the DSA ranks is high, though. He received over 80 percent support from the city’s chapter this week.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen DSA members so energized by a political campaign,” said Gustavo Gordillo, NYC-DSA co-chair. “After a demoralizing year of genocide and attacks on the working class, I think Zohran’s candidacy is helping DSA members feel a renewed hope in our own power to build a city for all of us.”

Assemblymember-elect and DSA member Claire Valdez, who will soon be sworn in as Mamdani’s geographical neighbor in the Assembly, expressed her excitement in Mamdani’s candidacy.

“Zohran was one of the first people I talked to when I was approached about running for office,” she told the Eagle. “He's always led with deep commitment to making the lives of working families better, and making NYC a city that works for everyone. He's smart, incredibly hard working and a true organizer.”

Born in Uganda, Mamdani would be the first mayor since the 1970s to be born outside of the United States, and the first ever who had represented Queens.

Mamdani was first elected to the state house in 2020, gaining his seat through an insurgent campaign against Democrat Aravella Simotas. Prior to his election, he worked in various campaigns, including on Cabán’s narrow loss to Melinda Katz in the 2019 race for Queens district attorney.

Since then, he has been a major proponent of transportation reform, including the Fix the MTA platform, which called for free buses, increased train service and fare freezing. He has also been one of the louder voices in favor of congestion pricing.

Mamdani has also become known recently for his stances on the Israel-Hamas conflict, going on a hunger strike for a ceasefire in the region in November, and last year introducing legislation that aimed to stop charities from donating to organizations that support Israeli settlements in Gaza and the West Bank.

He also has been an outspoken critic of Adams, and called for the mayor’s resignation following his federal indictment.

“City Hall is engulfed by corruption, but it's the outrageous cost of living that most New Yorkers are talking about,” he said. “People across the city are being crushed by rent and childcare, and Eric Adams has no answers to this crisis. In fact, he's actively making it worse.”

In his bid to unseat Mayor Eric Adams, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani joins an already crowded field which includes fellow Queens elected, State Senator Jessica Ramos. Photos via X /Ryan Schwach/Mayoral Photography Office

For months, Mamdani had made vague comments alluding to a run for mayor.

In August, during an interview with the Eagle he remarked that Adams has “got another thing coming in 2025.”

He made that statement in response to a question relating to the mayor saying he had done more for the Muslim community than any other elected official.

“This mayor has inspired a fury amongst Muslim New Yorkers and that stands out, even within a context of so many elected officials who traffic in Islamophobic rhetoric and policy,” Mamdani said.

Regardless of Mamdani’s chances, Democratic strategist Trip Yang sees his campaign as something positive for the Queens elected’s future.

“It never hurts for a candidate or potential candidate, to get their name out there,” Yang said. “A relatively younger assemblymember running for mayor is a big step up in competition, but there is plenty to gain and very little to lose.”