Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani denied abandoning his beloved Democratic Socialists of America comrades Thursday, amid fury from the far-left group over his endorsements in congressional races.
Mamdani defended his allegiance to the NYC-DSA when pressed over criticism from members about him backing City Comptroller Brad Lander over the group’s pick, Council Member Alexa Avilés, in the Democratic primary for the NY-10 race.
“It continues to be my political home, I continue to be a proud member,” Mamdani insisted.
Many DSA members saw red, launching a social media firestorm Wednesday over Mamdani’s endorsement of Lander, who announced a primary challenge to incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman for the Manhattan House seat.
“I’m so beyond disappointed in zohran for backing lander and sidestepping the organization that got him elected,” wrote David-Desyrée, who sits on the NYC-DSA Citywide Leadership Committee.
It was the second time since his election victory last month that Mamdani appeared to spurn a DSA member attempting to oust an establishment Democrat in next year’s midterms.
Mamdani had also urged the socialist group not to endorse Brooklyn Council Member Chi Ossé in a primary against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — with the soon-to-be mayor even attending an NYC-DSA chapter meeting to get his message across.
But Mamdani flat-out denied that he doesn’t want members of the socialist group to run when pressed by a reporter at an unrelated press conference in Chelsea.
“That’s not something that I have said,” he responded.
“I have weighed in specifically in endorsing Brad Lander, who is the candidate that is challenging the incumbent that race,” Mamdani said.
Shortly after Lander announced his run with Mamdani’s support on Wednesday, Avilés squashed her potential campaign.
“A split field runs too great a risk,” she said in a statement on X.
Ossé, who has also abandoned his long-shot bid against Jeffries, reposted the statement adding, “I would ride to dawn with you, @alexaforcouncil.”
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