Politics

NYC Mayor Mamdani Engages Labor Leaders to Back Left‑Wing Candidate for 2028

By Ravi Hari

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is positioning himself as a progressive kingmaker ahead of the 2028 U.S. presidential election, according to Axios. He has been holding private talks with labor union leaders to build support for a left‑aligned candidate in the Democratic primary. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and is ineligible to become U.S. president, has urged union leaders and progressive allies to coordinate early, arguing that the movement cannot afford to lose the momentum gained in the midterm elections.

Four people familiar with the discussions said the mayor has emphasized the need for a labor‑aligned candidate and has asked progressive leaders to be ready to unite against a leading centrist candidate if that person does not represent their interests. One source told Axios that Mamdani wants the progressive movement to mobilize quickly and strategically if a moderate candidate emerges as the frontrunner.

As part of these efforts, Mamdani met Jimmy Williams Jr., president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, at Gracie Mansion last month to discuss the 2028 race. He asked Williams about the potential candidates he favored, how his union’s endorsement process would work, and whether Williams had ever considered running for public office. Mamdani has also spoken with Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants‑CWA, about the 2028 race and other issues, and is expected to meet Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers, soon.

Axios reports that Mamdani has previously recruited and helped elect several left‑wing congressional candidates in New York. His outreach comes amid growing concern among progressives that the 2028 Democratic presidential race could lack a prominent left‑wing contender. New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez, a close ally of Mamdani, is seen by some as leaning toward a Senate bid in 2028 rather than a presidential campaign, though she has said she is considering both possibilities. Mamdani has privately acknowledged uncertainty over whether Ocasio‑Cortez will enter the presidential race, a decision that could significantly affect the Democratic primary and leave the party’s progressive wing searching for another candidate.

With Ocasio‑Cortez’s plans still unclear, some progressives are considering alternatives. Some on the left are hoping Michigan’s incoming senator Abdul El‑Sayed will consider a presidential bid in 2028, while others are backing California Representative Ro Khanna, who is widely expected to run, Axios reports.