Exclusive | NY Dem hopefuls who dodged publicly aligning with Mamdani now welcome backing

At least two Dem candidates seeking to challenge GOP Rep.Mike Lawler in New York City’s suburbs now say they’d welcome an endorsement from far-left Big Apple Mayor Zohran Mamdani — after previously ducking the issue.New York congressional hopeful Effie Phillips Staley was filmed Jan.

13 — two weeks after Mamdani’s inauguration — covering her face and refusing to answer when asked about a potential Mamdani endorsement by someone in a Republican group outside a candidates’ forum.But her campaign has since told The Post she’s on board with Mamdani’s potential backing — even boasting that her affordability platform is similar to that of the Democratic Socialist mayor, who stunningly swept into office with his November election win.““Zohran Mamdani created genuine excitement within the Democratic Party, and expanded the electorate in a way that no other establishment Democrat seems willing to do,” Phillips Staley’s campaign gushed in a statement.“He did it by connecting with working people who are fed up with government policies that benefit the ultra-wealthy and well-connected at the expense of everyone else.“Effie’s agenda, which includes a cash assistance program for first time home buyers, universal childcare from birth to kindergarten and an end to ICE’s terror, comes from the same philosophy that got Mamdani elected: create a government that serves people first, not the ultra rich and special interests,” her camp said.Another Democratic candidate, Peter Chatzky, also had previously dodged questions about a Mamdani endorsement outside the Jan.13 event but then told The Post on Sunday, “I probably would [accept Mamdani’s backing].

“He’s energetic He ran a very impressive campaign,” Chatzky said.“He focused on affordability.

It’s a problem in [Lawler’s] district as well.”The 17th House District runs through Rockland County, portions of northern Westchester County and parts of Putnam, and Dutchess counties....