TIMES International
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is testing his growing political influence ahead of the city’s Democratic primary, as he seeks to expand a progressive movement that is increasingly dividing the party in New York and drawing attention in Washington.
The 34-year-old democratic socialist, in office for just six months, is backing a slate of insurgent candidates in key congressional races and will appear at a get-out-the-vote rally in Brooklyn on Thursday alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, reports AP.
Once a polarising figure criticised by both major parties, Mamdani has seen his political standing rise sharply in recent months, gaining praise from President Donald Trump and even former Democratic detractors, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
His profile has grown further as he positions himself at the centre of a progressive push aimed at reshaping the Democratic Party’s direction.
At Thursday’s rally, Mamdani is expected to promote candidates aligned with his political agenda, including challengers to established Democratic incumbents in New York’s upcoming primary contests.
The event highlights his efforts to translate mayoral popularity into broader influence across state and national politics.
Faiz Shakir, a senior adviser to Bernie Sanders and a close associate of Mamdani, said the mayor is seeking to transform the party’s internal balance rather than act out of personal grievance.
He described Mamdani’s approach as part of a broader ideological effort to advance progressive alternatives within the Democratic Party.
Among the candidates endorsed by Mamdani is political organiser Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is running against Representative Adriano Espaillat in New York’s 13th Congressional District, which covers parts of upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
He is also backing former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander in his challenge against Representative Dan Goldman in New York’s 10th District, as well as Assembly Member Claire Valdez in New York’s 7th District, where she faces Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
The endorsed candidates are also supported by several state Assembly hopefuls and are expected to be featured at the Brooklyn rally.
Valdez has framed the election as part of a wider effort to advance the movement Mamdani helped energise during his rise to City Hall, arguing that voters are frustrated with party leadership and its response to Republican figures, including Donald Trump.
Valdez said she hoped to build a stronger link between New York’s progressive wing and national politics.
Reynoso, her opponent, has acknowledged Mamdani’s growing influence, describing him as a political figure with a level of public recognition rarely seen in recent years.
He said Mamdani’s endorsements have shifted the dynamics of several races, even where he believes he would otherwise have been competitive.
Despite broad agreement among candidates on major policy themes, differences have emerged in tone and emphasis, particularly over foreign policy.
Israel’s war in Gaza has been a central issue for the Mamdani-backed slate, with several candidates criticising their opponents as insufficiently critical of Israel’s leadership and aligning themselves with Mamdani’s own stance on the conflict.
The broader platform of Mamdani’s allies also focuses heavily on domestic concerns, including the rising cost of living in New York City, and positions itself as an alternative to candidates viewed as closely aligned with business interests or party establishment figures.
In Washington, Democrats have reacted with a mix of caution and acceptance. Some lawmakers are relieved that Mamdani has not become the electoral liability they initially feared in competitive districts.
However, his growing influence has exposed divisions within the party, particularly between moderates and the progressive wing.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also from New York, has actively supported incumbent candidates facing Mamdani-backed challengers, turning several races into indirect battles over the party’s direction.
Both men, however, have avoided direct public confrontation, opting instead to focus on primary contests rather than escalate internal tensions.
Party strategists say this approach reflects an effort to prevent Republican narratives of Democratic division from gaining traction.
Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist, said there is an understanding within the party that differences should be managed carefully in public while competition continues within primaries.
Jeffries’ allies acknowledge that Mamdani has energised sections of the Democratic electorate and attracted voters who have previously disengaged from politics.
At the same time, they prefer that his influence remains concentrated on New York City rather than expanding nationally.
Republicans, meanwhile, are preparing to use Mamdani’s profile as a political weapon, linking him to Democratic candidates in competitive districts across states including California, Colorado and Wisconsin, as well as in key races in New York and New Jersey.
While the Republican Party has not made Mamdani a central figure in its national messaging, strategists believe his progressive brand can be used to frame Democratic candidates in swing districts as aligned with more radical policies.
Mike Marinella, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, described Mamdani’s political identity as highly controversial and argued that Democrats risk being associated with his agenda.
He said Republicans intend to highlight what they view as divisions within the party during upcoming elections.
Bernie Sanders’ adviser Faiz Shakir, however, dismissed concerns that Mamdani’s influence could harm Democrats, saying the senator regularly references the mayor during national campaigning and that such mentions consistently energise supporters.
“The crowd just goes nuts,” Shakir said, adding that Mamdani is “certainly not a political liability.”
