NY Gov. Kathy Hochul slights Zohran Mamdani in live TV reality check, hints she may not endorse: Many differences

Gov.Kathy Hochul slighted mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani in a live TV interview Sunday — signaling she may not endorse him in the election even after he praised her “courage.”“We still have many differences,” Hochul said, keeping her distance from her fellow Democrat during a Fox News Sunday interview.

“I don’t know how you whitewash that away.”Fox host Shannon Bream had read a statement from Mamdani effusively praising Hochul for sparring with President Trump and Republicans over redistricting fights that could dictate who controls Congress.Mamdani said Hochul showed “courage” and was “meeting the moment.”“Is the feeling mutual? Is Mamdani a good choice” [for New York City mayor], Bream asked, sparking Hochul to bring up their “many differences.”“He can agree with me and many people agree with me and I think it’s not just Democrats who say, ‘New Yorkers stand up for our rights.’ We do that,” Hochul said.“We’re fighters.I’m a mom from Buffalo.

I guess they’re not used to taking on a mom from Buffalo.”Hochul, who is seeking re-election next year, has come out against Mamdani’s proposals to hike taxes by $9 billion on millionaires and corporations in the city to fund his affordability agenda of subsidized child care, fare-free bus services, housing expansion and government-run grocery stores.Those taxes need sign off from the governor and state lawmakers, who also are up for re-election in 2026.Despite the apparent snub, Hochul did say she agrees with Mamdani’s focus on tackling New York’s high cost of living and making both the city and state more affordable for residents.“There’s many areas of disagreement,” she noted.

“But also there’s areas of alignment including affordability.His election touched a nerve.

And people said, ‘you know what, we’re just not getting ahead.'”She claimed that President Trump’s policies, including imposing tariffs, have not helped.“There’s a sense that we ...