Moderate Democrats have expressed concerns about Zohran Mamdani, a progressive figure who became the party’s nominee for New York City mayor in June.
But Mamdani, the self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, has made efforts to widen his tent in recent weeks.
On Monday, he reached out to the business community and delivered a speech at an African Methodist Church in an effort to connect with groups that have been hesitant or even resistant to his candidacy.
Recently, he agreed to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which had upset moderate voters in New York. Additionally, he mentioned he is open to retaining Jessica Tisch as the police commissioner, a decision that could alienate his more progressive supporters.
Political observers say there’s evidence Mamdani’s efforts to consolidate support with a move toward the center are succeeding.
“He’s steadily gaining endorsements and meetings, and various sectors are preparing for a potential Mamdani administration,” noted Susan Del Percio, a Republican strategist based in New York who worked as a special adviser for former Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2014, a political adversary of Mamdani’s. “It’s becoming clear that many might be collaborating with him in about six months.”
“They’re giving it to Mamdani or they’re not supporting anyone else, which is by default, giving it to Mamdani,” Del Percio added.
According to a Siena College poll released on Tuesday, Mamdani is leading the mayoral race with 44 percent support. Cuomo, now running as an independent, holds 25 percent, followed by Republican Curtis Sliwa at 12 percent. Current Mayor Eric Adams, also running independently, has 7 percent.
Despite Mamdani’s hefty lead, Cuomo is still putting up a fight.
Last week, Cuomo issued a viral criticism on social media, targeting Mamdani over his residence in a rent-controlled apartment.
“Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, assemblyman @ZohranKMamdani, are occupying her rent controlled apartment,” the statement read. “You grew up rich and married an even wealthier woman. You’ve had weddings on 3 continents. You own property in LGTBQIA+ murderous Uganda. You make $142,000 a year plus stipends, and your wife works too, meaning you together likely make well over $200,000.”
“We are in the middle of a historic affordability crisis. Millions of low income New Yorkers need this apartment and an apartment like it. Yet your apartment remains rented to rich people who don’t need it,” Cuomo’s statement continued. “Today, I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who need it. Leaders must show moral clarity. Time to move out.”
Cuomo’s attacks come as Democratic party leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies (N.Y.) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, have notably withheld endorsements from Mamdani — their party’s nominee.
Political observers say that up until his victory in June’s Democratic primary, Mamdani’s brand diverged from establishment figures — like Schumer, Jefferies and Hochul — and was centered on resisting big money interests.
With the general election in November inching closer, they say he has to open himself up.
“Because it’s New York City, he’ll have to talk to corporate America, and he’ll have to talk to real estate because that is part of the economic foundation of our city,” said Democratic strategist Basil Smikle, who served as executive director of the New York State Democratic Party.
“He’s going to have to find some common ground that gives them the opportunity to say that he’s a fair broker, and he would be able to say that he’s delivering for the voters with and staying true to his main base.”
Strategists say Mamdani is making these efforts both to steer endorsements away from his competitors and to lay the groundwork for operational success as mayor.
At the same time, some strategists say he will also have to make political inroads with his weakest demographics to secure a victory in November.
“Just by definition, you have to … do addition to win elections, and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t doing that,” Democratic strategist Joel Payne said. “The one part of the electorate that he could do a market improvement with would be working class, particularly African American, voters, who are a more traditional Democratic constituency.”
“The pitch might sound a little different, but the notes are going to be the same,” Payne added. “Those folks care about bottom line economic issues, just like the people that boosted him and his primary campaign.”
Some political observers say Mamdani can get away with his current base because enough voters want new blood — and the rest of the electorate remains divided over the three other candidates in this race.
“He’s being helped by a somewhat crowded field with other legitimate candidates,” said Grant Reeher, the director of Syracuse University’s Campbell Public Affairs Institute. “In addition, there’s no question that most voters are dissatisfied with the status quo, and he is definitely a change candidate.”
Reeher added that any new traction Mamdani manages to gain “probably boils down to how unpalatable Andrew Cuomo seems to the more mainstream Democrats.”
And while Mamdani has begun talking to the more moderate Democratic establishment and is trying to expand his base — regardless of whether he needs to — strategists say a long and bumpy road awaits the mayoral hopeful.
“He’s not ready for prime time. He’s got to be doing everything he can to get ready for it, and it’s going to be really hard,” Del Percio said. “He will … be a topic for national scrutiny.”
“You’ve never seen a president go after a city, and then add that it’s Donald Trump and New York City with an inexperienced unknown,” Del Percio added. “That gives me the chills.”
