Consultant Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks throughout a cease on the ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (not pictured) on the Dignity Well being Enviornment, Theater in Bakersfield, CA, April 15, 2025.
REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci
Progressive standard-bearer Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced her long-anticipated endorsements within the Democratic major for NYC mayor on Thursday morning — rating Democratic socialist Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani first on a slate of 5 candidates.
In making her June 24 major picks, Ocasio-Cortez, who revealed them through The New York Instances on Thursday morning, absolutely embraced utilizing ranked-choice voting to attempt to overcome former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who holds a double-digit polling benefit within the race.
She ranked Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, his predecessor Scott Stringer, and Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie as her second by means of fifth selections.
The Congress Member, whose Bronx and Queens district overlaps with Mamdani’s, mentioned in a press release to the Instances that the Meeting member has “demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack.”
Mamdani has constructed his marketing campaign on a easy message of utilizing authorities to make life extra inexpensive for New Yorkers by making metropolis buses free, instituting common backed little one care, and freezing hire will increase for stabilized tenants. His technique utilizing that message to construct grassroots enthusiasm amongst progressives echoes Ocasio-Cortez’s personal that led to her upset victory over former US Rep. Joe Crowley in 2018.
AOC and Mamdani additionally share a savvy for utilizing social media to speak their message to younger voters.
“Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a once-in-a-generation leader and I am honored to have her endorsement as we seek to turn the page on the broken politics of the past,” Mamdani mentioned in a press release. “In 2018, AOC shocked the world and changed our politics for the better with her historic victory. On June 24th, we will do the same.”
Meeting Member and mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Ocasio-Cortez’s backing may give Mamdani, who has been polling in second place to Cuomo, a big increase within the ultimate days earlier than the first. Whereas Mamdani was proven to be closing his polling hole with Cuomo in an Emerson Faculty survey launched final week, he’s nonetheless 12 factors behind within the first spherical of ranked-choice voting and eight factors within the tenth spherical.
AOC’s profile has additionally grown amongst Democrats in latest months as she’s rallied with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, one other progressive chief, throughout the nation in opposition to President Trump’s insurance policies. The “Fight Oligarchy” rallies have drawn tens of hundreds of individuals in every location.
The Bronx/Queens Congresswoman has additionally been floated as a attainable challenger to Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer when he’s up for re-election in 2028.
Her endorsement may additionally elevate Speaker Adams, who has positioned third and fourth in latest polls, to the highest of progressive voters’ ballots. The speaker was a late entrant into the race and remains to be unknown to most voters.
4 of the 5 candidates Ocasio-Cortez helps additionally seem on the New York Working Households Social gathering slate. The progressive WFP additionally ranked Mamdani first final week, however positioned Lander second, Speaker Adams third, Myrie fourth, and state Sen. Jessica Ramos fifth.
It comes on the morning after the primary of two televised debates within the contest.
The 2-hour affair noticed the AOC-endorsed candidates hammer Cuomo with an onslaught of assaults. They painted the previous governor as corrupt, beholden to company pursuits pouring cash into an excellent PAC supporting his bid, and wholly unapologetic for scandals that sunk his political profession.
