Mamdani makes his pitch to New York’s business elite

Nearly every time he name-checked his political ideology – democratic socialism – at a business-centered forum Thursday, Zohran Mamdani paused for a laugh. And nearly every time, the audience complied. 

Mamdani, the front-runner in New York City’s mayoral race, knew those in the audience of business and civic leaders gathered inside a Columbus Circle venue for a forum hosted by the Association for a Better New York weren’t among the crowd effusively cheering his upset win in June’s Democratic primary. The crowd isn’t exactly intertwined with Mamdani’s leftist base. 

Mamdani nonetheless found an attentive audience, who have had nearly four months to get used to the possibility of a New York City mayor even further left than Bill de Blasio. Following his Democratic primary win, Mamdani and his campaign team have attempted to soothe concerns among business leaders who scare at terms like “democratic socialism” and campaign pledges built on a tax hike for high earners.

The mood on stage and in the crowd showed some receptiveness to Mamdani, who at one point quipped with a smile, “Have you talked about democratic socialism at ABNY before?” while answering a question about what the ideology means to him. (In short, it means “ensuring that New Yorkers are not priced out of that which they need to live (a) dignified life,” he said.)

While Mamdani has worked not to alienate moderates and the business community over the summer, he’s also not making promises he doesn’t intend to keep. ABNY Board Chair Steve Rubenstein, who moderated the forum, pressed Mamdani on whether he would keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her position if elected. Mamdani praised Tisch’s record and said she remained under consideration, but made no commitment.

In addition to his marquee talking point Thursday – a commitment to squeeze every economic and tourism benefit out of next year’s World Cup – Mamdani alluded several times to building out an administration composed of the best and the brightest, even those who don’t agree with him on every issue. At one point, he referred to it as a “team of rivals.”

Asked about how he would approach the mammoth task of managing City Hall, Mamdani said former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration was instructive, showing what it looks like to empower rather than micromanage one’s team. Bloomberg, a favorite among moderates and the business community, is less popular among leftists – a point Rubenstein seized on. “When you’re with the Democratic socialists, I assume they’re not really feeling it when you cite the Bloomberg administration,” Rubenstein said, eliciting laughs. 

In the audience Thursday were some high-profile Mamdani supporters – like Rep. Jerry Nadler – as well as those who have yet to make an endorsement in the general election. Rep. Greg Meeks, whose Queens Democratic Party endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the primary but neither he nor the county party have made a general election endorsement, was sitting in the front row. Also spotted in the audience was Meera Joshi, a former deputy mayor in Eric Adams’ administration, and City Council Members Gale Brewer and Keith Powers.

Mamdani’s appearance came hours before Quinnipiac released a new poll on the race. Mamdani’s still-comfortable lead over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is narrowing, going from 22 points in September to 13 points following Adams’ exit from the race. 

Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who is polling in third, is set to appear at a talk with ABNY on Oct. 15, while Cuomo is scheduled for Oct. 21.