New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik torched Governor Kathy Hochul after she announced her endorsement of socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for mayor of the nation’s largest city.
Stefanik, a prominent Trump ally and potential contender for New York’s governorship in 2026, unloaded on Hochul in a fiery statement.
“At the exact moment when New Yorkers are looking for strong leadership from their Governor with a majority opposing Zohran Mamdani, Kathy Hochul embraces this raging Communist who will destroy New York making it less affordable and more dangerous – once again putting criminals and communists first, and New Yorkers LAST,” Stefanik declared.
Hochul, less than two months out from the mayoral race, published her endorsement in The New York Times on Sunday, signaling a willingness to rally behind Mamdani despite his history of controversial remarks and support for defunding the police.
Thank you @KathyHochul!
I’m grateful for the Governor's support in unifying our party, her resolve in standing up to Trump, and her focus on making New York affordable. I look forward to the great work we will accomplish together.
Our movement is only growing stronger. https://t.co/xFlMZN7s3q
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) September 15, 2025
The governor acknowledged differences with Mamdani in her Op-Ed, but painted him as a leader who shares her priorities.
“We’ve had our disagreements. But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family,” she wrote.
Hochul castied her support as a rejection of President Donald Trump and Washington’s agenda.
The Democratic lawmaker stressed the need for a mayor who would “not surrender one inch to Donald Trump” and vowed to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mamdani against what she described as the president’s “extreme agenda.”
The endorsement placed Hochul squarely against Mamdani’s rivals who have closer ties to Trump, including current Mayor Eric Adams, Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Reports have surfaced that Trump’s advisors have floated the possibility of involving Adams and Sliwa in his effort to strengthen Cuomo’s campaign.
Adams’s team outright denied speculation that he was considering dropping out, calling the rumors “complete bulls—.”
“These lies are being spread by desperate opponents who can’t match the mayor’s record, his campaign energy, or his support across this city,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Mamdani’s candidacy has been plagued by criticism over past statements slamming the NYPD and his calls to shift resources into social programs.
He has since promised to apologize, with Hochul noting that she pressed him to ensure strong leadership within the department.
“I made it very clear that our police officers should have every resource to keep our streets and subways safe. I urged him to ensure that there is strong leadership at the helm of the N.Y.P.D. — and he agreed,” Hochul stated.
The governor also confronted Mamdani about his remarks on Israel, noting she welcomed his outreach to Jewish leaders to address concerns about antisemitism.
“We discussed the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally. I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly,” she said.
Hochul’s decision follows Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s endorsement of Mamdani at a Democratic fundraiser in Iowa, where he criticized party leaders for failing to unite behind the nominee.
In Iowa, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) criticizes New York members of Congress who haven’t endorsed Zohran Mamdani’s candidacy for NYC Mayor.
“That kind of spineless politics is what people are sick of,” he says. “They need to get behind him, and get behind him now.” pic.twitter.com/j9Nl4oN4RR
— bryan metzger (@metzgov) September 13, 2025
Van Hollen said, “The Democratic Party is not going to fix itself,” and pointed to Mamdani’s campaign as the first step toward a broader Democratic recovery.
He also accused hesitant Democrats of engaging in “spineless politics.”
“They need to get behind him, and get behind him now,” Van Hollen added.
Major party figures in New York have so far withheld endorsements. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remain on the sidelines, even as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez scolded leadership for hesitating.
“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,” she told reporters.
.@AOC, when asked abt Jeffries & Schumer not endorsing Mamdani:
"I am very concerned about the example that is being set by anybody in our party … if an individual doesn't want to support the party's nom now, it complicates their ability to ask voters to support any nom later" pic.twitter.com/d8bXPuGiKs
— Kevin Frey (@KevinJFrey) September 4, 2025
“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.”
Ocasio-Cortez added that for the sake of party unity, Democrats needed to “put our differences aside and support our party’s nominee.”
Mamdani responded to the governor’s endorsement with praise, highlighting her focus on affordability.
“Governor Hochul has made affordability the centerpiece of her work. I look forward to fighting alongside her to continue her track record of putting money back in New Yorkers’ pockets and building a safer and stronger New York City where no one is forced to leave just so they can afford to raise a family,” Mamdani said.
He also thanked her for uniting Democrats and applauded her for resisting Trump’s policies, citing her record on expanding childcare and securing free meals for children.
