The Democratic Socialists of America are considering endorsing Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City. Mamdani, a member of the DSA, has made his pitch and answered questions at a forum hosted by the DSA’s Citywide Electoral Working Group. Members of the DSA will vote on whether to endorse Mamdani from October 13 to October 19. Mamdani has previously been arrested for participating in a protest and has introduced legislation aimed at barring New York-based charitable groups from supporting Israeli settlement activity.
Mamdani is the only candidate being considered for an endorsement by the DSA for the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. The endorsement would not cover a special election should Mayor Eric Adams resign or be removed from office. Adams, who is facing corruption charges, has stated that he intends to serve out his term and seek re-election. Mamdani, who represents Western Queens, is said to be seeking the support of the NYC-DSA in running for mayor. Other prominent democratic socialists such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Councilwoman Tiffany Caban also represent the Astoria area.
The DSA has informed its members that Mamdani began approaching some DSA leaders about running for mayor in winter 2023/2024. A wider layer of NYC-DSA leadership became aware of the idea in the spring of 2024. According to the document obtained by members, Mamdani would not run for mayor without the support of the NYC-DSA. The DSA is also considering a “slate” strategy in rank-choice voting with the left-leaning Working Families Party to prevent a more moderate candidate like Adams from winning the Democratic primary.
Despite significant controversy surrounding Mamdani’s stance on Israel and his activism, the DSA is moving forward with considering an endorsement for his mayoral candidacy. The endorsement, if made, would be specific to the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. Mamdani’s past actions, including being arrested for participating in a protest and introducing legislation regarding Israeli settler violence, have garnered both support and backlash. The DSA’s decision on whether to endorse Mamdani will be determined by member votes.
The potential endorsement of Mamdani by the DSA is seen as a strategic move to maintain power within the organization’s power base in New York. Mamdani’s alignment with the values of the NYC-DSA and his connections to prominent democratic socialists in the area may be influencing factors in the potential endorsement. The DSA’s consideration of a rank-choice voting strategy with the Working Families Party highlights a broader effort to influence the outcome of the Democratic primary and potentially support a left-leaning candidate like Mamdani.
The upcoming vote among DSA members on whether to endorse Mamdani for mayor of New York City reflects broader discussions within the organization about strategic alliances, electoral tactics, and ideological alignment. Mamdani’s candidacy and the potential endorsement by the DSA signify a growing influence of democratic socialist values in New York City politics. The outcome of the vote and subsequent actions by the DSA will likely have significant implications for the future direction of the organization and its impact on the political landscape in New York City.
