Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has slammed top Democratic Party leaders for refusing to endorse Zohran Mamdani, the radical Democrat nominee in New York City’s mayoral race.
Like Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani is an avowed socialist.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have yet to back Mamdani’s campaign despite his official nomination and strong polling numbers in the general election.
That silence has infuriated AOC, who has increasingly positioned herself as the face of the party’s progressive wing.
AOC is also rumored to be a potential 2028 presidential contender.
“I am very concerned about the example that is being set by anybody in our party—in that, I believe that we must set the example of supporting the party’s nominee,” AOC told reporters.
“If an individual doesn’t want to support the party’s nominee now, it complicates their ability to ask voters to support any nominee later, whether that is mayoral, presidential, what have you.”
She added: “And so I think for the good of the party, we must put our differences aside and support our party’s nominee.”
Schumer has kept his distance from Mamdani since the socialist defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the party’s primary.
On Wednesday, Schumer said only that he plans to meet with Mamdani “soon.”
Ocasio-Cortez has publicly clashed with Schumer before.
In March, she blasted Senate Democrat leader for siding with Republicans to pass a spending bill that averted a government shutdown.
Her name has already been floated as a possible Senate challenger in 2028 if Schumer runs again.
Jeffries, who also represents a New York City district that would fall under Mamdani’s oversight if elected, has dodged questions on whether he will endorse.
The House Democrtat leader was pressed by a reporter on Tuesday, who asked:
“What’s taking you so long to support him?
“What do you need to hear from him to get behind the nominee from your party?”
Jeffries responded simply: “Stay tuned.”
Republicans, meanwhile, are eager to highlight the Democrats’ predicament.
National Republicans believe Mamdani’s campaign will be political ammunition in the 2026 midterms if Schumer and Jeffries eventually endorse him.
“It is now not a question of if, but when ‘Leader’ Jeffries will cave to the radical, socialist mob,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Mike Marinella said Wednesday.
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