Two New York progressives have emerged as national political figures, but allies of one believe the other has received noticeably more favorable treatment.
Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have maintained a united public front and appeared together in support of one another.
Still, the New York Times reported that Mamdani’s swift rise has created tension among some of Ocasio-Cortez’s allies. They have argued that, although Mamdani has not won over the entire left, he has been granted more patience and respect by progressive activists than Ocasio-Cortez ever received.
People in Ocasio-Cortez’s political orbit have been particularly struck by the deference extended to Mamdani as his profile has grown. In their view, the congresswoman was subjected to far harsher judgment while building her own national reputation.
That perceived double standard has fueled frustration, especially because Ocasio-Cortez faced intense scrutiny after entering national politics by defeating incumbent Congressman Joe Crowley in 2018 at the age of 28.
New York Representative Nydia Velázquez told the Times that Ocasio-Cortez has matured since first winning office, but said she still expected the congresswoman to be “vilified” if she met with “Bloomberg or some of the other corporate type guys.”
Mamdani’s reception has underscored the differing ways the Democratic Party’s progressive wing has treated its rising stars. Polling has also indicated that the mayor is more popular than the congresswoman.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at a campaign rally for California Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives Randy Villegas on October 23, 2026, in Bakersfield, California
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to the media after meeting with President Donald Trump on September 21, 2026, in New York
Mamdani, an outspoken Democratic Socialist, rose rapidly from relative obscurity as a political activist, earning strong support from progressive and pro-Palestinian factions of the left.
In October, pro-Palestinian protesters called him a “traitor” as he held a candle at a Union Square vigil commemorating the third anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The following day, demonstrators confronted Mamdani as he discussed the shooting of 28-year-old Oscar Bergal by ICE in Marble Hill, a neighborhood in northern Manhattan. Bergal is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic.
“Mamdani is complicit,” protesters chanted, making it difficult for the mayor to be heard.
During his remarks, Mamdani called for the abolition of ICE.
At the same time, some of his supporters have questioned his repeated meetings with President Donald Trump, including their most recent meeting at Gracie Mansion in September.
Mamdani told The New York Times last month that he met with Trump “to ensure that we’re using every opportunity we have to deliver for this city.”
Despite making several calls to the president and to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Mamdani was unable to persuade the administration to release Bergal, according to the outlet.
Trump and Mamdani have had a complicated relationship since taking office.
In September, Trump criticized Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez over their conduct during a New York City ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.
Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont independent Bernie Sanders both supported Mamdani during his 2025 campaign for New York City mayor
Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez were seen laughing together at the 25th anniversary memorial service as relatives read the names of those killed in the September 11 attacks.
The two Democrats appeared to burst into laughter during the solemn Ground Zero ceremony in lower Manhattan, while mourners nearby stood quietly.
Trump called the reaction “terrible,” saying the Ground Zero Memorial was not an appropriate place for laughter, “particularly in that case.”
“The fact that they were laughing together at a very important part of the ceremony was inappropriate,” Trump told reporters while returning to the United States after attending the Irish Open at his Doonbeg golf club on Ireland’s Atlantic coast earlier this fall.
A victim’s relative was seen crying at the memorial shortly before the camera turned to Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez, as loved ones of those killed stood on stage reading the names of the dead.
The footage spread rapidly across social media, where viewers said the pair’s laughter was “a slap in the face” to the victims and their families.
