Mamdani Scores Major Endorsement from Espaillat in NYC Mayoral Race Shake-Up

In a seismic shift for New York City’s mayoral race, Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has secured the endorsement of Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a heavyweight in Latino politics and a former ally of Andrew Cuomo. This move, announced Thursday, signals a bold realignment in the city’s political landscape as Mamdani, a 33-year-old Ugandan-born assemblyman, campaigns to become NYC’s first Muslim mayor.

Espaillat’s support is a gut punch to Cuomo, who leaned on the congressman’s backing during his failed primary bid. Mamdani, fresh off a decisive victory over Cuomo and nine others in the Democratic primary, is riding a wave of progressive momentum. His campaign, fueled by a grassroots army and savvy social media outreach, including TikTok, has galvanized younger voters with promises of free CUNY tuition, fare-free buses, rent freezes, and government-run grocery stores.

At a Thursday rally, Mamdani and Espaillat vowed to champion affordability and shield working-class and immigrant New Yorkers from what they call Trump’s authoritarian overreach. Meanwhile, the general election looms with a crowded field: Cuomo, now running as an independent, faces off against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, also an independent after dropping his primary bid amid scandals, alongside Republican Curtis Sliwa and former prosecutor Jim Walden.

Espaillat’s pivot from Adams, whose poll numbers tanked after a bribery and fraud indictment, underscores tensions over the mayor’s cozying up to Trump’s immigration policies. Mamdani’s rise, however, hasn’t gone unchallenged—Republicans, led by Trump himself, have branded him a “Communist Lunatic,” tying him to broader Democratic struggles ahead of the 2026 midterms.

With affordability at the heart of his platform, Mamdani’s vision for a more equitable NYC has struck a chord, but the road to City Hall is fraught with political landmines.