New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has now endorsed zohran mamdani, the socialist Israel-hater who is running for Mayor of New York.
What does it mean?
Mayoral election-wise, it probably means nothing. As long there are three opponents splitting the anti-mamdani vote he is a near-prohibitive favorite.
The only way I see him losing is if both incumbent Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa drop out, leaving it one-on-one between mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who the polls put in second place. But neither is doing so.
The big meaning, I strongly suspect, is that it makes Governor Hochul extremely vulnerable.
Despite mamdani’s lead in heavily Democrat New York City, he is disliked/despised/feared by a large minority of city residents. And if he stays true to his beliefs as Mayor, I’m betting a great many who voted for him will wind up with a major case of buyer’s remorse – which they can’t take out on him, but can take out on Hochul for her endorsement.
Add that to the many state voters outside of NYC who find mamdani equally reprehensible, and – assuming Republicans put up a seriously viable alternative (with Republicans you never know) – she is going to be in a world of trouble.
Ok, I’ve said it.
Please file this opinion away, and let’s revisit things around, say, next March or April, when New York City has had a few months of Mayor mamdani to, er, enjoy. Then we’ll see if any of this makes sense.
