NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani endorsed by ex-Squad member Jamaal Bowman in move bashed by Jewish activists: Very on brand

Former US Rep.Jamaal Bowman endorsed democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the race for mayor Wednesday – but critics bashed the candidate for embracing the controversial ex-“Squad” member.Bowman was a two-term Democrat for the Bronx and Westchester County who was run out of office by voters after pleading guilty to falsely pulling a fire alarm in the Capitol to temporarily delay a vote to avert a government shutdown.But Mamdani welcomed Bowman’s endorsement despite the political baggage, considering him a kindred soul on affordability issues for the working class and needy.

Mamdani took aim at former Gov.Andrew Cuomo, the frontrunner in the crowded Democratic Party primary for mayor, with polls showing the democratic socialist trailing at No.

2.“With Bowman’s help we not only reach more voters in the Bronx, but expose Cuomo’s record of failure and corruption,” Mamdani said in a statement.Bowman — who represented the 16th Congressional district before he was replaced by moderate Democrat George Latimer — had been aligned with the left-wing “Squad” that includes Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx, Queens) and Rep.

Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rep.Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).He called Mamdani the candidate of the working people and slammed Cuomo as a corporate Democrat.“Andrew Cuomo is taking money from the same billionaires who support Donald Trump,” said Bowman, a former Bronx educator before running for public office.

“We got people like Donald Trump because of people like Andrew Cuomo.”Although Bowman was trounced by Latimer in a Democratic primary in 2024, the ex-“Squad” member handily carried the Bronx portion of the 16th district, including heavy black precincts in the massive Co-Op City housing complex.The complex was the setting for a press conference announcing the endorsement.Mamdani, who is now a Queens assemblyman, called Bowman’s endorsement “historic” and praised him as a “fighter for not only the Bronx but t...