Sen. Cory Booker (D-NY) refused to back Zohran Mamdani, the far-left Democratic mayoral candidate in New York City, when pressed repeatedly by CNN’s Manu Raju last week. Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, recently defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the primary, yet Booker would not offer his support.
“I have learned a long time ago, let New York politics be New York politics,” Booker deflected. “We got enough challenges in Jersey… I’m supporting Mikie Sherrill. I got legislative races. That’s where my energy is going to go.” Despite repeated follow-ups, Booker insisted he would not weigh in, instead claiming that “the left-right lens is not the right lens.”
While Booker dodged, others in the Democratic Party were more direct. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), blasted Mamdani as a “job-killing socialist” and pointed to the candidate’s refusal to condemn antisemitic rhetoric, including the inflammatory phrase “globalize the intifada.” “We do not need a job-killing socialist who wants to raise taxes and supports antisemitic rhetoric,” Gottheimer said.
Governor Kathy Hochul also avoided endorsing Mamdani, signaling growing discomfort within the party over embracing its most radical flank. Booker’s vague remarks about “pragmatic government” and “ties that bind us” did little to reassure voters concerned about a candidate whose policies threaten economic growth and public safety.
