Mamdani win exposes NY Democrats’ turmoil

Laura Nahmias

The excitement that greeted Zohran Mamdani this weekend at an annual gathering of New York lawmakers and power brokers in San Juan, Puerto Rico was effusive. But that excitement at the Somos el Futuro conference couldn’t mask the fault lines that his decisive win in last week’s mayoral election exposed within the state’s Democratic party.

Divisions over taxation, immigration and Israel will be tested in almost every major political contest next year. A growing list of Democratic incumbents will face challenges from the left, where Mamdani’s improbable win is emboldening progressive candidates.

In San Juan, Governor Kathy Hochul - who has to win her own primary before she can compete for reelection against Republican Elise Stefanik - struggled to juggle the enthusiasm for Mamdani’s policies with their fiscal reality. The Democrat, who endorsed Mamdani, a democratic socialist, had to bat off the pressure to submit to his supporters, who bombarded her with chants of “Tax the Rich!”

Instead, the governor - who has repeatedly said she would not raise taxes - threw cold water on those demands, aimed at convincing her to fund Mamdani’s ambitious social programs with higher levies on millionaires and corporations.

“I don’t change my position,” she told reporters in a conference room of the Caribe Hilton. She also cast doubt on the viability of Mamdani’s pledge to provide free bus service, which his campaign estimates would cost about $750 million.

“I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways,” Hochul said Saturday. “But can we find a path to make it more affordable for people who need help? Of course, we can.”

The governor tried downplaying her differences with Mamdani, telling reporters that while the two may disagree on how to accomplish them, they have the same goals.

Mamdani, 34, who was a virtual unknown a year ago, was the undisputed star in San Juan. He couldn’t step in any direction without being mobbed over a weekend filled with selfies, stump speeches and standing ovations. Politicos angled for jobs in his future administration, and reporters who paid him little attention a year ago swarmed.

His decisive victory is inspiring copycats, with other progressive Democrats hoping to capitalize on the momentum to announce primary challenges against incumbents in Congress.

Former Bronx Assembly Member Michael Blake, a Democrat who ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor, said in San Juan he plans to primary Bronx representative Ritchie Torres, attacking his support for Israel and history of donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. Blake has previously supported Israel.

“I cross-endorsed Zohran in the primary, I campaigned for him,” Blake said in an interview in San Juan. “Ritchie Torres definitely did nothing to help. And so we’re in a moment of time where the city and the Bronx were saying they want change. And at that point, it became very clear for me, if you want to give them change, it’s time to run for Congress.”

“Michael Blake is not interested in the Bronx; he’s only interested in using it to run for office for the fifth time, and the result will be the same as before: another loss,” said Benny Stanislawski, Torres’s spokesman. “There’s a reason Bronx voters trust Ritchie Torres. He’s been their champion in Congress, laser-focused on issues like public housing and affordability while standing up to Donald Trump. That’s why he’s going to win again next year.”

Brooklyn City Council member Chi Osse, who like Mamdani has a large social media following and is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is also planning a run for Congress, according to the New York Post. He’s planning to challenge to Democratic Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries - who waited until early voting began to endorse Mamdani, the Post reported. Osse did not return a request for comment.

Back in San Juan, rumors ricocheted about the future of former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost to Mamdani with 42% of the vote after running on an independent line. The talk included a potential run to replace Democrat Jerry Nadler’s seat representing upper Manhattan after he retires from Congress next year.

“This is like a Somos fever dream,” Cuomo campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said, denying the rumor. “These half-mad and mostly drunk politicos were all holed up in the same place together and they all tried to will something into existence.”