Hochul Doubles Down on Mamdani Endorsement Amid Trump Threat to Defund New York

Governor Kathy Hochul is doubling down on her defense of Zohran Mamdani amid threats from President Donald Trump to strip federal funding if Mamdani – a self-described democratic socialist – becomes New York City’s next mayor. But insiders say her shifting stance and past critiques of Mamdani reveal deeper political unease.

Tuesday, speaking alongside Mamdani in Queens, Hochul pledged to “fight like hell” to prevent funding cuts to the state. She warned that punishing New York would be “detrimental not just to the city but to the broader economy,” and promised to hold Trump accountable by pointing out the damage such cuts would inflict on his business interests in the city.

“Everyone in this country should be vested in the success of New York City, as I am,” Hochul insisted, adding that slashing federal support would hurt “his properties, business interests, his friends in the city.”

Hochul’s posture may seem uniformly supportive, but she has also been publicly critical of several of Mamdani’s key proposals. In June, she flatly rejected his plan to raise taxes on high earners, stating, “I’m not raising taxes at a time where affordability is the big issue.” She further underscored her resistance to new levies by remarking that “raising taxes on anyone does not accomplish that” goal.

At one point before endorsing him, Hochul even mispronounced his name in public remarks and noted, “Obviously, there's areas of difference in our positions,” signaling reluctance to fully embrace his agenda.

More recently, Hochul sharply rebuked Mamdani for his criticism of the NYPD, telling reporters, “I believe an apology is in order,” after he had labeled the department “racist.”

Despite her growing assurances that she’ll fight to protect New York from federal retaliation, Hochul’s path to endorsing Mamdani was anything but smooth. Early on, she declined to back him, stating she needed to review his policy positions and claiming she was not focused on politics – saying, “I focus on governing and delivering for New Yorkers and working with the people that are in government today.”

Then, only after months of cautious distancing, she officially threw her support behind Mamdani after pressure from those inside the Democratic Party. Even then, Hochul emphasized the differences between them and framed her endorsement as grounded in necessity rather than wholehearted alignment.

It remains to be seen the political blowback that Hochul's endorsement of Mamdani will have as she gears up for a 2026 re-election battle against New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

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Hochul Doubles Down on Mamdani Endorsement Amid Trump Threat to Defund New York