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Democrats are in “absolute panic” over Zohran Mamdani’s stunning New York City Democratic mayoral primary win — fearing he could be “toxic” for the party but worried about possible primary challenges if they don’t endorse him, sources told The Post.
Congressional Dems are “afraid” of Mamdani supporters setting up opponents to incumbents, including Reps. Dan Goldman, Jerry Nadler and even Grace Meng and Adriano Espaillat “could be a target,” a New York Democratic source said Monday.
“It’s not hesitancy, it’s absolute panic and fear – and fear that not only are they saddled with (Gov.) Kathy Hochul’s very bad polling numbers, now they have to deal with the toxic impact of Zohran Mamdani in the outer boroughs and suburbs,” the source said.
Hochul, and the other Dem leaders, now find themselves in a bind and many have held off on publicly endorsing the mayoral nominee — nearly a week after he bested former Gov. Andrew Cuomo by 70,000 votes in the first round of the ranked-choice primary.
The avowed socialist’s shocking win has garnered national attention, sparking talk of a new, left-wing political movement in the Big Apple and beyond.
While several top Democrats have congratulated Mamdani for the race he ran focused on affordability, many have hedged or dodged when asked about whether they would endorse him, including the governor.
“I mean, I’m allowed to have all the conversations I want to make a decision,” Hochul said when pressed about her decision on whether to endorse during an unrelated event Monday.
Hochul said she had the “first of what I consider being many conversations” with Mamdani on Sunday.
A source close to Hochul explained endorsing Mamdani could be toxic for the governor as she eyes re-election next year and needs to stay in moderate Democrats’ and Republicans’ good graces.
“She can’t endorse him. That’ll be the election. She’ll lose Long Island,” the source said.
“She has to be a middle-of-the-line Democrat to win. Not just her, but any national Dems who stand with Mamdani will have to answer for it.”
She’s not the only Dem worried about how Mamdani’s socialist and anti-Israel stances could play outside the city.
“Obviously we’re not thrilled, but he won democratically, and fair and square and excited tons of new voters,” a New York Democratic congressional staffer said.
“But yes there are concerns,” the source said. “Hopefully he moderates.”
Mamdani, a virtual unknown Queens assemblyman when he launched his campaign last year, skyrocketed to political stardom running on a platform including free buses and childcare and taxing the ultra-wealthy and businesses to pay for it – though he would need the state legislature’s approval.
But he’s raised eyebrows and sparked outrage over comments about Israel, including repeatedly refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” as the conflict in Gaza drags on.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) declined to sign off on Mamdani, calling on him to “clarify” his position on the use of the pro-Palestinian rallying cry many see as antisemitic.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also has yet to publicly support Mamdani.
Fellow New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has drawn scrutiny from Mamdani supporters for calling on him to denounce the “globalize the intifada” phrase, saying she wasn’t ready to endorse him yet.
Several Democrats in vulnerable battleground districts have also distanced himself from the Democratic nominee — potentially putting them on a collision course with lefty candidates in next year’s primaries.
House Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen, both of Long Island, have outright criticized Mamdani.
A Democratic New York state lawmaker found cruel irony in the far-left’s growing frustration over establishment pols not jumping to endorse Mamdani.
“While I believe the establishment should rally around him, I find it rich that some of his supporters are shaming those that aren’t – but didn’t say a peep when angry Bernie Bros cost us the presidency in 2016,” the pol, who did not want to be named, said — in reference to supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders during his Democratic presidential primary run against Hilary Clinton.
“They can’t have it both ways.”
Other congressional Dems have also left voters wondering if they would officially back Mamdani, who will be on the general election ballot with GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa, Mayor Eric Adams, Attorney Jim Walden and Cuomo.
Goldman, a Manhattan Democrat, sidestepped the question during the Pride March Sunday when asked by The Post.
“We’ll see what happens,” said Goldman, who previously said Mamdani has to make clear he’d proactively take steps to protect Jewish New Yorkers against the rise of antisemitism.
Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres said on CNN Monday: “I have not endorsed the assemblyman, we spoke on Sunday and we had a mutually respectful conversation.
“We have profound differences of opinion,” said Torres, a staunch Zionist who previously supported Cuomo. “There was no discussion of an endorsement, but there is a discussion of a commitment to continuing the dialogue.”
Mamdani’s campaign has been reaching out to politicians and groups in hopes of broadening his support heading into November, according to sources.
Some elected officials have quickly gotten behind Mamdani, including Nadler (D-Manhattan) and state Attorney General Letitia James.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who stayed neutral in the primary, said the candidate has contacted him to set up a meeting.
“I’ve seen the slogans,” he told The Post. “I want to see tangible ways he can help Queens.”
The city’s Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, which makes up 300 unions and 1 million members, announced Monday it overwhelmingly voted to endorse Mamdani following his primary win — a tough hit to both Cuomo and Adams.
Political consultant John Tomlin told The Post that Mamdani’s comments on “globalize the intifada” has made it harder to show the lefty love.
“I don’t think Mamdani is a hateful person, but it’s really hard to present this image of equality among all people and defend a statement that is extremely hurtful to Jewish New Yorkers,” said Tomlin, senior managing director at Actum.
He added the Republican Party will work to paint Mamdani as a “bogeyman” in hopes of hurting Dems nationwide.
“They did it to [former mayor Bill] de Blasio, they already doing it to Mamdani and they’re gonna try paint every Democrat who has to run, particularly in the suburbs and win votes in the suburbs, they’re gonna try to tie them to Mamdani as much as possible,” Tomlin said.
— Additional reporting by Carl Campanile, Ryan King and Steven Vago
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