Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Queens assemblyman, is at the center of a political storm that’s capturing the attention of New York City and far beyond. After clinching a surprise victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, Mamdani has found himself both celebrated and scrutinized by the Democratic Party’s top brass, as he attempts to steer the party—and the city—toward a more progressive future focused squarely on affordability.
In the days following his primary win in August 2025, Mamdani received a phone call that many in politics would consider a career-defining moment: former President Barack Obama reached out personally to congratulate him. According to The New York Times, the conversation was more than just a courtesy call. Mamdani recounted at a campaign stop in the Bronx, “We spoke about the importance, in a moment such as this, where politics is often characterized by a language of darkness, of the necessity of hope in how we speak and how we orient ourselves to the world.” For many observers, Obama’s gesture was a nod to Mamdani’s grassroots campaign style and his focus on affordability—qualities some believe represent the future direction of the Democratic Party.
The parallels between Obama and Mamdani are hard to miss. Both men achieved underdog victories that shook up the Democratic establishment. Obama, then a junior senator from Illinois, famously toppled Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential primary—a contest many thought was hers to lose. He faced criticisms about his experience and calls to wait his turn, yet went on to serve two terms as president. Mamdani, in a similar vein, is challenging the incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, despite facing similar attacks on his readiness for the city’s top job. His campaign has zeroed in on an ambitious affordability agenda: free city buses, rent freezes, expanded housing, and a higher minimum wage.
“It was a call that I was honored to receive,” Mamdani said of his conversation with Obama. “It was an honor to have that conversation and that presents for us an opportunity to continue to build on both, the way in which we practice our politics. But also, as the borough president said, it is one thing to inspire hope. Our responsibility now is also to deliver on and take justice seriously.” Obama reportedly shared advice on governing and offered words of encouragement, a detail that has not gone unnoticed by party insiders.
Despite the high-profile call from Obama, mainstream Democratic leaders have been slow to rally around Mamdani. As of August 18, 2025, neither House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries nor Senator Chuck Schumer has endorsed him. According to Gothamist, Jeffries has taken a cautious approach, telling CNBC on August 14 that Mamdani still needs to convince his Central Brooklyn constituents that he can deliver for them. “He outworked the opposition,” Jeffries said. “But now during the general election, of course he's going to have to demonstrate to a broader electorate, including in many of the neighborhoods that I represent in Brooklyn, that his ideas can actually be put into reality.”
Jeffries and Mamdani have met once, and a follow-up meeting that would include other community leaders is reportedly being planned. However, as of August 18, no meeting has been scheduled. Jeffries’ spokesperson, Justin Chermol, told Gothamist that the two are aligned on pushing back against Donald Trump, stating, “Assemblyman Mamdani has publicly and consistently affirmed the importance of Democrats taking back the Congress next year. His initial conversation with Leader Jeffries was constructive, they plan to meet again shortly and both agree that aggressively pushing back against Donald Trump’s extremism is a top priority.”
Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul has taken a notably warmer approach toward Mamdani. Hochul met with him within a week of his primary win, describing their meeting as productive and emphasizing their shared focus on affordability. According to her aides, their teams remain in regular contact. Hochul defended Mamdani against attacks during a recent interview on NY1, stating, “If he becomes the mayor, I'll stand up and defend him against Donald Trump. You're not going to come in and walk over our elected officials, so I'll make it work.” Her position is seen by political analysts as both a reflection of her own re-election calculus and an effort to appeal to New York City’s progressive base.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, commented on the differing approaches of Jeffries and Hochul. “I think he has a different way of approaching his endorsements. He also has a different base – very different from my base,” she said of Jeffries. Bichotte Hermelyn added that while an endorsement from Mamdani could help Hochul with New York City voters, the governor must also consider potential backlash from independent voters in suburban areas—a factor that weighs heavily on statewide campaigns.
For Jeffries, the calculus is different. He needs to consider candidates for the U.S. House across the nation, many of whom represent more moderate districts. As Bichotte Hermelyn put it, “He has to address a Congress – a bunch of reps who represent the nation. And so it's not as easy and simple.” Underlying this is a simmering tension between Jeffries and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which supports Mamdani and has previously backed challengers to establishment figures in Jeffries’ Brooklyn base. The two camps have clashed in past primary campaigns for state legislative seats, and CNN reported after the primary that DSA members were considering challenging Jeffries and other incumbents.
State Senator Kevin Parker, who has not endorsed Mamdani, said he discussed the DSA’s history of targeting Black elected officials with Mamdani after the primary. Parker, who represents some of the same neighborhoods as Jeffries, remarked, “I’m hoping he comports himself, and the members of the DSA comport themself, in a better way than they have until this point. He’s promised to be better and I’m hoping that will be the case.”
Despite the swirl of establishment hesitation, Mamdani’s coalition continues to grow. On August 15, he secured the endorsement of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. He spent the week leading up to that endorsement on a five-borough tour, rallying against Donald Trump and emphasizing his campaign’s central themes. Senator Elizabeth Warren has also voiced her support, stating at a child care affordability event earlier this month, “Come talk about affordability for families…This is who Democrats fight for, and Zohran is on the front lines in that fight, out there fighting for families.”
Yet, Mamdani remains the subject of attacks from both Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who continues to run as an independent despite his primary defeat. Cuomo has criticized Mamdani’s residency in a rent-stabilized apartment—a point Jeffries called a “legitimate issue” but one that has not derailed Mamdani’s momentum. Indeed, recent polls show Mamdani as the frontrunner among New York voters, a testament to the resonance of his message and the energy of his grassroots movement.
As Mamdani himself put it, “My focus has always been on receiving the endorsement of the 8.5 million people who call this their home, and it has been a joy to continue to expand our coalition.” With the general election approaching and the city’s political establishment still weighing its options, all eyes remain fixed on whether Mamdani’s blend of hope, ambition, and progressive policy can translate into lasting change for New York City.
