Queens Democrat Party snubs own Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani — refuses to endorse him for NYC mayor
Queens Democrats pulled a surprising move before Tuesday’s mayoral election: the party leadership in Queens declined to back its own nominee, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
The party’s decision came after Mam Mamdani knocked former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Cuomo went on to run in the general election as an independent, while Mamdani kept the Democratic flag in Queens.
Democratic district leader Hiram Monserrate told reporters that many Queens Democrats do not support Mamdani. “We’re facing a reckoning in the party,” Monserrate said, warning that “socialism is hijacking the Democrats.” He pointed out that the Queens chapter hosted a pre‑election gala where Cuomo’s campaign flyers were still on tables.
Queens’ party chairman, Rep. Gregory Meeks, and the local organization have remained silent on whether to endorse Mamdani. The pause has shocked some insiders: “It’s disgraceful,” one party member said. Meeks, however, said he would have faced backlash if he backed Mamdani.
Not all local leaders share the hesitation. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and state Senator John Liu have publicly backed Mamdani. Liu has already drawn criticism from some of his Jewish constituents for supporting the “Israel‑bashing” legislator. Meanwhile, other officials and district leaders are quietly backing Cuomo or staying neutral.
Monserrate, who is active in a group fighting the sex‑trade on Roosevelt Avenue, also criticized Mamdani for earlier supporting bills that would decriminalize prostitution—a point that many Queens voters find contentious.
The dispute has spilled over to Staten Island. The Staten Island Democratic Party first endorsed Cuomo in the primary, but its chair, Laura LoBianco Sword, switched to Mamdani after he won, claiming she was following the party’s nominee. Other island leaders disagreed, and Sword stepped down. The new Staten Island leadership, led by Assemblyman Charles Fall, has not yet endorsed Mamdani.
In contrast, the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx Democratic committees have all given their nods to Mamdani, marking a clear split in how the city’s Democratic parties are supporting the mayoral race.
As the final ballots approach, the Queens Democratic Party’s decision to withhold an endorsement adds a wrinkle to the 2025 NYC mayoral contest. Watch for more moves as the weeks stay tight and the city looks for its next chief executive.
Source: New York Post
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