Obama calls Mamdani, compliments campaign before NY mayoral race

Obama called Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York, on Saturday and offered to be a “sounding board” if Mamdani, 34, wins the race. He also gave Mamdani’s effort high marks.

The New York Times was the first to report on the call, and Mamdani’s spokesman confirmed it.

A spokeswoman for Mamdani, Dora Pekec, said, “Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obama’s words of support and their conversation about how important it is to bring a new kind of politics to our city.”

Mamdani, a state assembly member from Uganda, is polling much higher than his major opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, before the general election on November 4.

Cuomo is running as an independent because he lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani. The Republican candidate is Curtis Sliwa, the head of Guardian Angels.

Mamdani shocked people who follow politics when he easily won the primary on June 24. Since then, people who aren’t in the party have backed him, like former Vice President Kamala Harris and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. He has also gotten a lot of money from small donations.

Mamdani’s plans include raising taxes on New York City’s richest people, the corporation tax, stabilized apartment rental rates, and publicly funded housing. These changes are making people in the finance industry worry that the city will lose its competitive edge.

His rise is both good and bad for the national Democratic Party. The party knows it needs to appeal to young people, but Mamdani’s Democratic socialism and criticism of Israel could make it easier for Republicans to attack.

Obama held a rally on Saturday with Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey. Sherrill is running against Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a very close race. He also went to a gathering for Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia.