Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, is shaking up the Democratic Party’s establishment with his recent New York City mayoral primary win. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive firebrand, has thrown her weight behind him, hosting a breakfast in Washington, D.C., to promote his campaign, as Fox News reports. Her support signals a growing rift between the party’s radical wing and its cautious leadership.
Mamdani clinched the Democratic Party primary for mayor last month, riding a wave of progressive momentum. Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed him early, joined him for a “Communication and Organizing Skillshare Breakfast” on Wednesday in the nation’s capital. The event, originally set for the National Democratic Club, was abruptly moved to a nearby restaurant just minutes before starting.
Notably absent were endorsements from Democratic Party heavyweights such as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer. Both leaders, pivotal in New York politics, have scheduled meetings with Mamdani but stopped short of backing him. This hesitation underscores a broader tension within the party as moderates eye Mamdani’s socialist platform warily.
Ocasio-Cortez campaigned alongside Mamdani in New York before his primary victory. “Zohran Mamdani is the Democratic candidate for mayor,” she declared Tuesday, urging party unity. Her call for cohesion sounds hollow when top Democrats like Jeffries and Schumer remain noncommittal.
Mamdani’s campaign hinges on affordability, pushing rent freezes, cheaper childcare, and lower grocery prices. These promises resonate with urban voters but raise eyebrows among moderates who fear a socialist label could tank broader Democratic Party prospects. The breakfast event, attended by progressive allies like Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna highlighted Mamdani’s digital campaign savvy.
“It was just more how he was getting that message out,” Rep. Luz Rivas noted after the breakfast. Mamdani’s social media prowess has caught attention, even from moderates like Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who attended despite policy disagreements. Yet, this focus on digital flash risks overshadowing substantive policy debates.
Rep. Jerry Nadler and Rep. Nydia Velázquez, both Mamdani endorsers, attended the breakfast, with Velázquez gushing, “It’s just beautiful to have someone so authentic.” Her enthusiasm contrasts sharply with the silence from Jeffries and Schumer, who seem reluctant to embrace Mamdani’s radical agenda. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a recent convert to Mamdani’s camp, cited party loyalty after previously backing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral contest.
Cuomo, undeterred by his primary loss, announced Monday he’ll run as an independent. President Donald Trump, uninvited to the breakfast, expressed interest in attending and called Mamdani a “Communist” while praising Cuomo’s chances. Trump’s jab, though crude, reflects GOP glee at exploiting Democratic Party divisions.
“We would like to congratulate Andrew Cuomo on earning Donald Trump’s endorsement,” Mamdani’s campaign spokesperson Jeffrey Lerner quipped Tuesday. The sarcastic retort aims to tie Cuomo to Trump’s baggage, but it sidesteps the real issue: Mamdani’s policies are a tough sell for centrists. Republicans are already capitalizing, with the National Republican Congressional Committee labeling Mamdani the “face of the new Democratic Party.”
RNC Chair Michael Whatley gleefully agreed that Mamdani gives Republicans “extra ammunition” in their messaging. “This is the face of the new Democratic Party,” he declared, painting Mamdani as a radical liability. The GOP’s strategy to tie vulnerable Democrats to Mamdani’s agenda is predictable but potent.
Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell, who attended the breakfast, praised Mamdani’s social media tactics but avoided endorsing his policies. Her presence, alongside other progressives such as Rep. Luz Rivas, shows Mamdani’s appeal within the left flank. Yet, moderates like Rep. Tom Suozzi, a vocal Mamdani critic, stayed away, highlighting the party’s fractured unity.
Ocasio-Cortez remains undaunted, insisting Tuesday that “this conversation can be constructive to bring the party together.” Her optimism ignores the reality: Mamdani’s socialism alienates as much as it inspires. The Democratic Party’s reluctance to fully embrace him suggests a deeper struggle over its ideological soul.
Mamdani, eager to court party leaders, said Tuesday he’s “excited to go to Washington, D.C., to speak with Congressman Jeffries, to speak with Senator Schumer.” The longtime Senate leader confirmed a Wednesday call with Mamdani, while Jeffries planned a Brooklyn meeting later in the week. These talks may yield endorsements, but Nadler’s vague “I would assume so in time” hardly inspires confidence.
The Democratic National Committee distanced itself from the breakfast, stating it had no involvement. This hands-off approach mirrors the caution of party elders wary of Mamdani’s radicalism. His focus on affordability may appeal to voters, but it’s a tough pitch in a party desperate to avoid GOP attack ads.
Republicans are already framing Mamdani as a socialist boogeyman, with the National Republican Congressional Committee warning that “House Democrats share his far-left agenda.” Their rhetoric, while hyperbolic, taps into real voter concerns about progressive overreach. Mamdani’s rise may energize the left, but it risks handing Republicans a cudgel to batter Democrats in competitive races.
