Mamdanis building a machine and every Democrat may soon have to kiss his ring
On Tuesday, New York City’s Democratic voters will decide whether Zohran Mamdani controls the future of their party.With equal parts perfidy and chutzpah, Mamdani has broken with party leaders who supported his rapid rise in last year’s mayoral race to endorse three House candidates.Three-decade incumbent Nydia Velázquez, esteemed by progressives and Hispanic voters alike, was the first member of Congress to endorse Mamdani last April.“It’s just beautiful to have someone so authentic,” she gushed in July.With Velázquez retiring from her NY-7 seat, she thought she could count on Mamdani to repay the favor for her chosen successor, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso — a union-backed progressive who isn’t part of the Democratic Socialists of America.But Mamdani, authentic to himself, failed to follow through.He’s backing Claire Valdez, a fellow member of the DSA, instead.Valdez, a 36-year-old transplant from Lubbock, Texas, has only served in the state Assembly since 2025.Besides organizing a United Auto Workers union at Columbia for clerical workers and her leftist bona fides, she has few qualifications over Reynoso, who has spent decades in New York’s Democratic circles.But that may not matter if Mamdani’s backing is all it takes to win.Last year, Mamdani likewise pledged to endorse Rep.Adriano Espaillat, the incumbent in NY-13 covering most of Harlem and part of The Bronx.The congressman quickly supported Mamdani following his primary win, despite having previously backed Andrew Cuomo.Instead, Mamdani endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 31-year-old DSA member and former organizer in his campaign.Among her many moves that would have been disqualifying not long ago, the radical Chevalier attended a pro-Palestinian DSA rally the day after Hamas’ Oct.
7 massacre and hostage-taking rampage.No elected officials attended that appalling demonstration, not even then-Assemblyman Mamdani.Espaillat, in public office since 1997 and chair of the...