Top Democratic Party officials are increasingly frustrated with their leadership for not doing more to support Zohran Mamdani's campaign for mayor of New York City, several people familiar with the situation tell Axios.
Why it matters: The rise of Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has split top Democrats in D.C. and New York, some of whom fear his left-wing views and criticism of Israel will damage the party's national brand.
- It's the latest example of drama within the Democratic National Committee as party leaders try to figure out a way forward after the 2024 election.
Behind the scenes: Members of the DNC have confronted party chair Ken Martin about doing more for Mamdani. They believe Martin and his inner circle are overly cautious and wary of fully backing Mamdani because of some of his positions.
- Mamdani's controversial promises include pledging to arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City, getting rid of "gifted" education programs for kindergarteners in public schools, spending millions on government-run grocery stores, and freezing the rents for rent-stabilized apartments.
- He has tried to distance himself from his past criticism of the New York Police Department, which he called "racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety" in 2020.
Martin congratulated Mamdani on the night of his primary victory in June — one of the earliest shows of support from a Democratic establishment figure.
- But since then, he's done little to boost Mamdani's campaign — even as he's campaigned in person for Democrats nationwide, including gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey ahead of their elections this November.
- Even when Mamdani appeared to have won the Democratic primary in June, DNC executive director Roger Lau — the campaign manager for progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren's 2020 presidential bid — had to privately push Martin's inner circle to issue the statement congratulating Mamdani, people familiar with the matter told Axios.
- "Ken's team doesn't take risks," said one person familiar with the situation. "He's very insular."
- A second source said the back-and-forth between Lau and Martin's advisers was about issues such as whether to post the statement before the race was officially called rather than ideology, and that Martin ultimately made the call to post his statement on X.
What they're saying: In a statement to Axios, Lau said, "Chair Martin has made clear from day one that the DNC always has the backs of primary voters, and the moment those voters made clear their choice for mayor of New York City was Zohran Mamdani, Ken was proud to declare the DNC's support on election night."
- Lau added that for months, Martin "has applauded Mamdani's laser focus on affordability and kitchen-table issues, which is a unifying and winning agenda for members of our party from all corners of the big tent."
- The DNC said that during a recent Zoom call with volunteers, the party shared links to various organizing opportunities, including for Mamdani's campaign.
Mamdani's campaign declined to comment, but several of his allies believe the DNC and other powerful Democrats are tone-deaf and listening more to corporations and big donors rather than their own voters.
Catch up quick: Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, is running against Mamdani as a third-party candidate after losing the Democratic primary to him.
Zoom in: Mamdani's candidacy also has split the state party in New York.
- Jay Jacobs, chair of the New York Democratic Party, declined to endorse Mamdani last month, saying he rejects "the platform of the so-called Democratic Socialists of America" and doesn't believe it "represents the principles, values or policies of the Democratic Party."
- Meanwhile, Jacobs' executive committee chair Christine Quinn, a former speaker of the New York City Council, has been a vocal booster for Mamdani.
- Quinn told Axios that she found Jacobs' position "unacceptable." Jacobs declined to comment.
Zoom out: Mamdani's success also has divided the Democratic establishment at its highest levels.
- The two leaders of congressional Democrats — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both of New York — have declined to endorse Mamdani so far.
- New York's other Democratic senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, hasn't backed Mamdani but New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) recently threw her support behind him.
Even the Democratic Mayors Association has been quiet on Mamdani's candidacy while supporting other Democrats running this year.
- The group gave Mamdani a "special shout out" after the June primary, but hasn't weighed in since then.
- A spokesperson for the DMA told Axios the group is still weighing its full slate of 2025 endorsements.
