Bronx Democrats rally behind Zohran

With Yankee Stadium looming in the background, supporters new and old joined forces in the Bronx to back Zohran Mamdani Tuesday afternoon, urging party leaders who’ve yet to endorse the Democratic mayoral nominee to get on board.

The rally, held at Lou Gehrig Plaza, was well-attended by Bronx elected officials – many of whom endorsed Mamdani for the first time Tuesday. That included the Bronx Democratic Party, Bronx Democratic Party Chair state Sen. Jamaal Bailey and City Council Member Oswald Feliz and others. (A scheduling conflict prevented Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson from attending Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for Mamdani’s campaign, though the New York Post reported she never confirmed her endorsement.) 

Their support is a big deal for Mamdani in a borough he’d lost handily in the Democratic primary. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is mounting a longshot bid in the general election as an independent candidate, won more than 53% of first-round votes there to Mamdani’s roughly 34% in June.

But Tuesday's rally centered on more than Mamdani’s work to steadily win over borough leaders. The Bronx Democratic Party, Gibson and Bailey all refrained from backing a candidate in the Democratic primary, making the rally a fitting venue for several speakers to urge other electeds to get on the Mamdani train. While nobody explicitly called out Gov. Kathy Hochul, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries or Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer by name, all three moderate Democrats have largely kept their distance from the 33-year-old Democratic socialist, underscoring what some have described as an identity crisis wracking the party. Conversations are ongoing between Mamdani and the three leaders.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams didn’t mince words Tuesday as he addressed the apprehension. “I think people are still struggling with what happened – just get over it. Zohran won,” he said, pointing to the fact that Mamdani inspired a substantial number of first-time voters to turn out. “What I’m trying to tell the party, let’s get behind someone they said they want to vote for.”

While many mainstream Democrats have been reluctant to embrace Mamdani – even after his decisive win – Attorney General Letitia James has been boosting him for months. She’s likened him to former President Barack Obama multiple times, delivering a jubilant speech at his victory party. On Tuesday, she again urged the party to unite. “All of us need to be standing with purpose today and in support of my good friend,” James said. “Now is the time that we have to come together to address the challenges coming from Washington D.C. Now is the time that all of us must stand arm to arm, shoulder to shoulder with no space between us.”

“You can’t find a person in this crowd that has had unilateral ascent on anything, so we shouldn’t look for that. We should look for commonality,” Bailey said, stressing Mamdani’s love of the city.

Over the past two months, Mamdani has sought to broaden his political tent, doubling down on his affordability messaging and distancing himself from aspects of the far-left platform of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which he is a member. He’s rolled out endorsements from leaders across the political spectrum – from moderate former Mayor Eric Adams and Cuomo backers like Rep. Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn to former Mayor Bill de Blasio. Cuomo meanwhile has few backers in the general. The same goes for Mayor Eric Adams. 

Asked Tuesday whether he had a message for Jeffries, Hochul and Schumer, Mamdani demurred. “We have been excited to continue to expand this coalition,” he said.