BURSTWhen Zohran Mamdani won the New York City Democratic mayoral primary in June, he vowed to win over moderate voters and other potential supporters who were unconvinced of his views.
And while he has made some inroads with those voters, skepticism still exists over his "democratic socialist" moniker, his views on Israel and his relative inexperience, among other issues.
Most striking is the number of Democratic lawmakers from New York
— including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
— who still haven't backed his candidacy.
"I think a lot of people were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt if he went out there and talked about some of these concerns but he really hasn't done that," said one prominent New York fundraiser. "If he was really changing minds, one has to wonder why the Democratic leaders in Washington still haven't gotten behind him.”
"I think people wonder if he's really checking the boxes or if he's really listening," the fundraiser added.
Susan Del Percio, a veteran New York-based Republican strategist who does not support President Trump, echoed the fundraiser's sentiments.
"A strong nominee would be able to have gotten the endorsements already from all the major lawmakers from New York. These should not be tough things,” Del Percio said. “The fact that this hasn’t happened is revealing of his inexperience as a politician and as an executive.”
"He just doesn't have the basic understanding," Del Percio added.
To be sure, Mamdani is still the favorite to win the mayoral race against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
But after current New York City Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race this week, Cuomo and Sliwa are expected to benefit from those who supported the mayor, a recent poll from CBS News indicates.
And the race could tighten further if Sliwa exits the race.
Since winning the primary in June, Mamdani has taken steps to come toward moderate voters who have been lukewarm in supporting him.
In August, Mamdani held meetings with business leaders, including Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, and Robert Wolf, the CEO of 32 Advisors and the former chair and CEO of UBS Americas.
The Democratic nominee for mayor also gave a speech at an African Methodist church, an effort to bridge the gap with apprehensive Black voters.
This summer, he also agreed to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a statement that angered — and in some cases turned off — moderates in New York.
In an interview with The Hill, Wolf — who is well connected to most Democratic leaders, including former President Obama — said he met with Mamdani on an hourlong Zoom call following a meeting the candidate had with Partnership for New York City, the nonprofit organization of more than 300 firms that works to advance economic opportunity there.
“I applaud that he’s reaching out to business leaders and that business leaders are reaching out to him,” Wolf said. “It’s imperative that the public and private sector work together on areas of agreement and disagreement.”
“His big ideas are resonating especially with young people,” Wolf added. “In a post-COVID world, if people don’t think affordability is front and center, if people didn’t learn this was the key issue in the Trump election, then they’re out of touch.”
“If Zohran works with the private sector he can help fix these problems with food insecurity, mobility, housing and health care, then that’s a win for New York City,” he continued.
Mamdani scored a big victory when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) endorsed him last month after previously expressing some concern about his policies. He also received the backing of New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with the Bronx Democratic Party and the Staten Island Democratic Party, two of the more moderate-leaning borough parties. (The chair of the Staten Island Democratic Party later stepped down after other borough Democrats protested the decision.)
But he has been less successful with other New York lawmakers, including Rep. Dan Goldman (D), who represents parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
In an interview on Sunday with CBS New York’s "The Point with Marcia Kramer," Goldman signaled he’s not ready to endorse Mamdani.
The congressman said while he’s had some “good conversations” with Mamdani and holds “a lot of shared views” with him on issues including affordability and child care, he said he wants to see the candidate address the “legitimate” concerns among New Yorkers about antisemitism.
“I’ve been very clear with him and with New Yorkers that, as mayor, he is ultimately responsible for the safety and security of all New Yorkers — and that includes Jewish New Yorkers, who are at heightened fear right now for legitimate reason,” Goldman said.
Still, Adams’s departure from the race this week puts more pressure on the New York lawmakers to endorse Mamdani over Cuomo, who “comes with some significant baggage,” said Basil Smikle, a New York-based Democratic strategist who also served as the director of the state party.
“One or all of them are going to have to do something before early voting starts,” Smikle said of the Oct. 25th date. “And if he ends up winning without their support, that says a lot about the coalition that he has shaped.”
But the fundraiser warned that even if Mamdani wins the support of the Democratic leadership, it will ultimately hurt Democrats at a time when they are still reeling from the 2024 election and a year before the midterm elections.
"Frankly, it's a distraction that we don't need," the fundraiser said. "Republicans in the state are already running against the Hochul-Mamdani ticket, and that should give the party some serious warning signs."
"This is a dream come true for Trump and his party," the fundraiser added.