Mamdani can’t be president – but he still wants to be involved in the 2028 race

Although New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani can never be president, he clearly intends to be involved in the race – confirming a report from Axios that he has had conversations with labor union leaders about potential left-wing and labor-aligned Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential race.

He acknowledged his meetings with labor leaders at an unrelated press conference in Manhattan on Monday morning, while not revealing much about what was discussed or his preferences for an eventual Democratic nominee for president. Instead, Mamdani emphasized the importance labor has in shaping priorities for 2028.

“I had sought and continue to meet with labor leaders precisely because they have been on the front lines of delivering for those working people and the importance of ensuring that the crises that affects working people are at the centerpiece of any of the politics that comes from now until 2028,” Mamdani said, when asked about his conversations regarding the 2028 presidential race. 

One top labor leader in the city, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council President Rich Maroko, welcomed the mayor’s interest. 

“Wherever we can find common ground on endorsements, we obviously want to,” Maroko said in a statement to City & State. “He’s done an incredible job of choosing candidates who share our commitment to labor and understanding the priorities of our members, and because of that, I expect there to be more opportunities where we can be aligned in the future."

Though HTC supported Andrew Cuomo in the 2025 mayoral primary, Mamdani earned their support for the general election and he’s built a close relationship with the union since.  

Mamdani wouldn’t be the first mayor to get involved in a presidential election. Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio attempted to host a presidential forum for candidates in 2015 before making his own failed run for the 2020 Democratic nomination. “I don’t think that there’s a tension in helping to elect Democrats and also in ensuring that we as Democrats are accountable to the very reason that working people have entrusted their faith in us once again,” Mamdani said Monday.

Some think Mamdani is well positioned. “If Mandani were to choose to be very involved and play a kingmaker sort of role, he has the credibility now to do it,” said Democratic strategist Trip Yang, who did work for a pro-Mamdani super PAC in 2025. “He’s proven in his first year he can govern in New York. And he’s proven that his endorsement carries weight in New York.”

Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a U.S. citizen in 2018, is barred from running for president himself. But Yang said that fact has given him “freedom” to get involved in other ways, including by speaking with potential candidates. It’s no secret Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are close political allies, but he’s met at least one other rumored candidate too. Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a progressive whose allies have urged him to run, recently visited City Hall for a closed-door meeting with Mamdani. 

But Mamdani, who has so far avoided much politicking beyond New York since stepping into City Hall, is likely keen to not be seen playing kingmaker over keeping his focus on New York City. “He really likes to be seen doing direct work and he does not like to be seen, kind of playing politics and whatnot,” Democratic consultant Ryan Adams said.

Mamdani might not be the deciding factor in who makes it out of a primary for the Democratic nomination, but some still think he could be influential.

“He’s become the avatar of what the Dems can be to a lot of people,” Adams said. “I hear folks all over the country saying things like ‘Mamdani is my mayor,’ which is weird to hear from a woman in Omaha.”

Discussing the presidential race is another shift for Mamdani. He was heavily involved in several Democratic primary races in New York City and in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection, but has largely stayed away from elections outside New York. In one exception, Mamdani attended a Brooklyn fundraiser in early October for Michigan’s now Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed.