Hochul backs Mamdani’s rising candidacy against establishment figures

Department of Research, Studies and International News 15-09-2025

In a development shaking up the political scene of the United States’ financial hub, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has thrown her support behind Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, as he consolidates a commanding lead ahead of the city’s mayoral election in November.

Governor Hochul made her endorsement public in an opinion piece published in The New York Times, emphasizing her alignment with Mamdani’s vision for a fairer and more affordable city. She explained that after “frank conversations” with the candidate, she was convinced he embodies the leadership qualities New Yorkers urgently need.

“I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a city where children can thrive in safe neighborhoods and where opportunity is not the privilege of a few but accessible to every family,” Hochul wrote. “I also heard a leader who is determined to make New York City affordable, a mission I fully endorse.”

At just 33, Mamdani has already become a central figure in progressive American politics. His proposals resonate strongly with working-class residents who feel left behind by decades of corporate-driven policy. Among his flagship promises are free public bus services, as well as a freeze on rent for tenants in subsidized housing, policies directly challenging the unchecked gentrification that has deepened inequality across the city.

In the Democratic primary earlier this year, Mamdani won a decisive 56.4 percent of the vote, defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has sought to stage a political comeback despite his tarnished record. Cuomo, well known for his pro-Israel stance and his participation in defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against war crimes allegations in Gaza, has refused to step aside. His decision to remain in the race underscores the persistent fault lines within the Democratic Party, particularly between the party’s establishment wing and its progressive base.

A divided Democratic establishment

Despite Mamdani’s momentum, several senior Democrats have hesitated to endorse him. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres remain conspicuously silent, reflecting the nervousness of the centrist establishment when faced with a candidate advocating for justice abroad and equality at home. Hochul’s endorsement, therefore, carries weight not only because of her governorship but also because it signals a shift in the balance of Democratic loyalties.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen has sharply criticized his colleagues’ reluctance to support Mamdani, calling it evidence of “spineless politics” that voters increasingly reject. His statement highlighted the growing frustration among ordinary Americans toward leaders who continue to prioritize party machinery and foreign lobbies over people’s needs.

Trump’s interventions and political irony

President Donald Trump has also sought to insert himself into the race. In remarks to Fox News, Trump mocked Mamdani as “my little communist mayor,” while paradoxically admitting that the candidate’s 20-point lead represents “a rebellion against bad candidates.” Trump’s attempt to discredit Mamdani only reinforced the sense that the candidate poses a genuine challenge to the entrenched political order.

Mamdani has not shied away from confrontation either. He has described current Mayor Eric Adams, who is now running as an independent, as a “puppet” of Trump following reported meetings between the two. Adams, plagued by scandals and dwindling popularity, registers a mere 12 percent in recent polling.

According to the latest Quinnipiac University survey, Mamdani commands 45 percent support among likely voters, enjoying a comfortable 22-point advantage over Cuomo, who trails at 23 percent. Curtis Sliwa, the perennial Republican candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels vigilante group, polls at 15 percent. His law-and-order rhetoric, reminiscent of the United States’ decades-long obsession with policing rather than solving systemic issues, has failed to resonate with a broad base.

Trump, in his usual fashion, dismissed Sliwa as “not exactly prime time,” underscoring the divisions within the Republican camp.

A broader struggle beyond New York

While the contest is localized, its implications extend far beyond New York City. Mamdani’s rise signals growing frustration with the U.S. political establishment’s complicity in global injustices, from endless wars to unconditional support for Israel’s crimes in Gaza. His unapologetically pro-Palestinian stance and alignment with progressives like Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Representative Pramila Jayapal position him as part of a broader movement challenging Washington’s status quo.

For supporters across the Global South, from Moscow to Beijing to New Delhi, Mamdani’s popularity represents more than a city election. It reflects a crack in the U.S. establishment’s facade, as Americans themselves begin questioning the legitimacy of leaders who have long ignored calls for justice, both at home and abroad.

With less than two months until election day, Mamdani’s campaign appears to be on a trajectory toward victory. Yet, as with all challenges to entrenched systems, resistance from the establishment will persist. Hochul’s endorsement, however, marks a significant turning point in the race, signaling that even within the corridors of power, there is recognition that the future of New York, and perhaps the U.S. political system more broadly, cannot be dictated by outdated elites.

If Mamdani secures the mayoralty, it will not only reshape New York City’s political landscape but also resonate internationally as proof that the American people are capable of breaking free from the grip of entrenched lobbies and embracing leaders who speak for justice, fairness, and global solidarity.