While some prominent New York Democrats look to stop Zohran Mamdani’s momentum, the Manhattan Democrats became the first county committee in the city Monday night to endorse Mamdani in the general election for mayor.

In an interview with NY1, County Leader Keith Wright said this decision is about uniting Democrats, noting Mamdani not only won the Democratic primary, he also won Manhattan.

Manhattan district leaders voted overwhelmingly to back Mamdani after he visited their meeting and shared his vision for a more affordable city.

“I think Mr. Mamdani showed during his campaign a real grassroots effort,” Wright said. “He didn’t take an ivory tower or rose garden approach. He was out, actually out in the streets, and I suspect he’ll keep doing that for the next four months until November.”

On Tuesday, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) announced that the union’s delegate assembly also voted to endorse Mamdani.

“We have to make the jobs of educators and nurses more attractive with better pay and benefits, and retain those already doing the work,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said in a statement.

“We need a mayor who understands the task before us and who will help us get it done. The UFT Delegate Assembly has determined that Zohran Mamdani can be that partner as the next mayor of New York City,” Mulgrew continued.

The UFT posted to social media saying delegates “believe he is the best candidate in the race to advance our union’s agenda.”

UFT delegates voted to endorse Mamdani because they believe he is the best candidate in the race to advance our union’s agenda: to protect our premium-free health care, fix Tier 6, pass the “RESPECT check” bill, implement the class size law, revamp mayoral control and more. pic.twitter.com/ZEq0Q0offu — UFT (@UFT) July 8, 2025

The union said their agenda includes protecting its premium-free health care, implementing class size law, revamping mayoral control and fixing Tier 6, which deals with pension benefits.

“The vote followed a discussion among the delegates about which mayoral candidate would be our best partner in advancing the priorities we have in common as UFT members,” the union wrote.

The endorsement comes after Mamdani picked up two other high-profile union endorsements last week from Local 32BJ SEIU and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, both of which had endorsed Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

The UFT did not make an endorsement during the primary, saying at the time that its membership was split between Cuomo and Mamdani.

“We are the largest teachers union in the world, which means we have the largest number and the biggest diversity of political opinions and agendas,” Mulgrew said in an interview with NY1 just hours before the endorsement.

Local elected officials, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Bronx Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14), the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council, the 1199SEIU, and others have all recently endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (A.D. 36) for mayor of New York City in recent weeks in the upcoming general mayoral election. As reported, Espaillat, a Dominican who is chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, had previously endorsed former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

The congressman, who represents northern Manhattan and the West Bronx, joined the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council for a press conference on Thursday, July 10, in the United Palace theater in Washington Heights, during which the council, the congressman, and other elected officials gave their formal backing to Mamdani.

“New York City is at a tipping point and so we need someone who’ll represent those tenants, those small business people, those families, that are up against the wall without the ability to breathe, trying to stay in the city that they love, and that they grew up in,” Espaillat said in part at the event.

He added in part, “We had our election and the people have spoken, and the Democrats have spoken, and they have said clearly, that they have selected Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani to be our nominee of the Democratic Party! So, for me it is a privilege and an honor to be here and support Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani for Mayor of the City of New York.”

There were shout outs of “Preach” in response. For his part, in reference to Espaillat, Mamdani said in part, “It is such a pleasure to stand alongside an incredible trailblazer in Congressman Adriano Espaillat because my dream as the next mayor of New York City is to deliver for the people who make this city great, and the only way we can deliver that is together.”

He continued, “It is by recognizing the incredible work that has come before this moment to allow for the possibility of this moment, and I see that partnership in Congressman Espaillat, I see that partnership in the New York delegation and I see that partnership in the work that we will do to take back the House.”

Also at the event were Councilmembers Shaun Abreu, who represents Manhattan’s District 7, the Upper West Side, and Carmen de la Rosa, who represents Northern Manhattan’s District 10, including the neighborhoods of Washington Heights, Inwood, as well as Marble Hill.

They also endorsed Mamdani, with Abreu saying, “We’ve tried running a city that’s expensive. Now, we’re going to try to build something different, something bold, something honest.

Meanwhile, De la Rosa said, “Zohran is my friend, but Zohran is also a man with a plan and a bold vision for what our city can achieve, a city that centers workers….” She then asked, “Is Labor in the House?” and was met with cheers and applause.

The trades council later wrote that they were “incredibly proud” to join Espaillat in endorsing Mamdani, “As Congressman Espaillat emphasized, it’s time to unify around our Democratic nominee. We look forward to continuing to build our winning coalition!”

As reported, prior to the Democratic primary in June, AM New York had reported on May 11 that the congressman had thrown his support behind Cuomo together with the Coalition for Community Concerns, quoting Espaillat as saying, in part, that Cuomo was, as of that date “the clear choice in the mayoral race.”

On May 28, in reference to a New York Times article on Cuomo’s campaign manifesto, Espaillat said, “I applaud @andrewcuomo’s plan to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour. New York City’s working families and people deserve a livable wage so that they can afford to stay and thrive in our city.” For more on Cuomo’s campaign announcement, click here.

However, in March 2021, it was a different story and amid the sexual harassment allegations brought against the former governor, Espaillat said it was time for Cuomo to resign which he ultimately did, as reported. However, prior to that sexual harassment scandal, Espaillat had openly supported at least some of Cuomo’s actions going back to 2019 and well before.

The congressman had commended Cuomo and State representatives for enacting a law that would give Congress the ability to fulfill its Constitutional responsibilities to hold then-U.S. President Donald Trump accountable and “to ensure our democratic system remains strong.” In 2017, the congressman had also openly thanked the then-governor for answering his calls for assistance for his constituents amid Hurricane Irma, and in 2018, also thanked Cuomo for ensuring New York remained welcoming to immigrant families and for vowing to fight the separation of children from their parents.

As reported, on June 29, Espaillat and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), a Puerto Rican who represents parts of Brooklyn, were refused entry to the 10th floor of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. The two were attempting to conduct oversight of the facility amid allegations of “overcrowding, unbearable heat, and people being forced to sleep on bathroom floors.” Read more here. The two revisited the building once again on July 14 to continue conducting oversight and were refused entry.

Meanwhile, Espaillat’s constituency office in Manhattan was previously vandalized, seemingly in reaction to the posting of fliers in the office window of missing Jewish hostages after the the Oct. 7th 2023 terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas.

Mamdani has divided Jewish New Yorkers due to his comments on “globalizing the intifada” though, as reported, since his primary win, he has since said he understands the term is offensive to the Jewish community and is discouraging its use. [He has also drawn the ire of the Italian American community since an old photo of him giving the bird to a statue of Christopher Columbus began to circle online.]

Also on July 10, Sanchez, who represents Council District 14 and serves as chair of the city council’s housing and buildings committee, also “proudly” announced her endorsement of Mamdani, adding that her own win against her primary challenger last month, former three-term Council Member Fernando Cabrera, in his attempt at a comeback, showed that Bronx voters were “ready for bold, new leadership.”

Sanchez emphasized the “urgent” need for a shift in city leadership that “centers the needs of working-class, immigrant, and low-income communities.”

She added, “As a daughter of the Bronx and a proud representative of a working-class, immigrant, resilient community, I’m honored to endorse the Democratic Nominee, Zohran Mamdani, for Mayor of New York City. Zohran’s campaign isn’t just inspiring—it’s bold, urgent, and rooted in the realities of neighborhoods like mine, where families are fighting to stay housed, fed, and hopeful.”

She continued, “We need a leader who won’t shy away from taking on slumlords, who understands safety starts with stability and will invest in our homes, create good-paying jobs, and pour resources into our children’s futures—keeping them learning, dreaming, and off the streets. Our city’s most vulnerable—Black, Brown, immigrant, and low-income New Yorkers—deserve more than survival.”

She described Mamdani’s campaign as one powered by working-class New Yorkers, not corporate donors. She said with record numbers of young voters turning out citywide, it is time to re-engage New Yorkers in inclusive, transparent governance, and “not rely on the same politics that have failed so many for so long.”

“We deserve a city where we can thrive. Zohran has the courage and vision to lead us there. I’m proud to stand with him–alongside the 545,000 New Yorkers who stood with him in June–and I hope you will too,” Sanchezconcluded.

On Friday, July 18, the nation’s largest healthcare union, 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, announced its endorsement of the assemblyman. Its executive council, the union’s highest, decision-making body comprised of elected officers and rank-and-file members from every region of 1199SEIU, took the vote the same day.

Representing some 200,000 healthcare workers in New York City and over 450,000 members along the East Coast, 1199SEIU is the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the county.

“Working people across New York City are uniting to defend our neighborhoods and our city from unprecedented attacks from extremist politicians and their billionaire donors who are taking away healthcare, ripping families apart and endangering our democracy,” 1199SEIU President Yvonne Armstrong said.

“We are proud to endorse Zohran Mamdani who will fight side-by-side with us to ensure New Yorkers get the services they need, build affordable housing, and create safe communities. 1199SEIU’s 200,000 New York City members are frontline healthcare workers who save lives and care for the most vulnerable New Yorkers every day, but the city’s cost of living is wearing us down. We need a mayor like Zohran who has a plan to ensure frontline caregivers can continue working and living in our city.”

Meanwhile, as reported, Espaillat’s congressional colleague, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15), who represents a large section of The Bronx stretching from the northwest to the South, had endorsed Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Following Mamdani’s win, and although he denounced calls by Republican colleagues in Congress to deport Mamdani, the congressman declined to say whether he would endorse the assemblyman in the general election.

As for Cuomo, despite his primary loss, he announced Monday, July 14, he is definitely running as an independent in the general election, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Torres had told CNN on June 30, “My endorsement of the governor only applies to the Democratic primary which is over.”

“The voters of the Democratic primary have spoken and my focus is on [inaudible],” Torres said. Asked by the anchor if he would endorse Mamdani, he said, “I have not endorsed the assemblyman. We spoke on Sunday [June 29]. We had a mutually respectful conversation. We have profound differences of opinion. There was no discussion of an endorsement but there was a discussion of a commitment to continuing the dialogue.”

A sprawling coalition of law enforcement unions will endorse Eric Adams’ campaign this week — in what is a major win in the early days of the mayor’s independent re-election bid, The Post has learned.

The newly formed slate dubbed NYC Uniformed Forces Coalition 2025 includes nearly all the city police, corrections and sanitation unions — and will formally back Hizzoner’s re-election run on Thursday on the steps of City Hall, according to sources.

Notably missing from the announcement will be reps from the Police Benevolent Association, the largest cop union in the country, which backed Adams in 2021.

3 Eric Adams will be endorsed Thursday by a slate of law enforcement unions. NYC Mayor’s Office/YouTube

3 The unions decided not to back the Democratic nominee and socialist lawmaker Zohran Mamdani. Paul Martinka

The PBA attended the first coalition meeting, but leaders later decided to break from the group and make their own endorsement.

The unions opted to stay silent during the stunning primary election that saw ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who nabbed nearly all the backing of labor unions and big business, fall to frontrunner Zohran Mamdani who won last month’s Democratic Party primary.

In the weeks since, Adams and Cuomo — both of whom are running on independent lines — have been jockeying for the support of business leaders and other influential New Yorkers as they loudly call for one another to bow out so they alone can take on Mamdani.

3 Cops sources have told The Post they are concerned of how the far-left Mamdani would run NYC. Paul Martinka

Police sources have told The Post there was little appetite among the ranks to back Cuomo, who they see as the architect of the state’s controversial criminal justice reforms in 2019, and fear a far-left socialist in City Hall after his calls to defund the police.

Adams’ campaign spokesman said the mayor was “proud” to receive the endorsement of the 13 unions, including the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, Detectives’ Endowment Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, Lieutenants Benevolent Association and Captains Endowment Association.

“These endorsements reflect real confidence in his record and a shared belief that public safety is non-negotiable,” said Todd Shapiro, adding, “This mayor has always said: we don’t have to choose between safety and justice — we can have both.”

The police support could provide a boost to Adams’ bid to hold onto City Hall after a series of poor polls that have the sitting mayor more than 20 points off the front runner in a distant third or fourth place.

The endorsement comes as pundits have skewered Mamdani for trying to water down his lefty policies by publicly saying he would consider keeping on current Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York City’s Democratic nominee for mayor Zohran Mamdani was endorsed by DC 37, the city’s largest labor union representing over 150,000 members and 89,000 retirees in the public sector, and played to its membership at a campaign event Tuesday by focusing on his “belief in working people.”

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has run his campaign on a platform of expanded attention to working class New Yorkers with proposed programs like free buses, city-run grocery stores, increased taxes for the wealthy and a rent freeze.

“Because what use is it to go through months of contract negotiations, to win those hard-earned raises, only for you to go back to your rent-stabilized apartment and face an even bigger increase in your rent,” Mamdani said at the endorsement event.

DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido welcomed Mamdani’s primary win as “a victory for all working class New Yorkers,” stating that “we’re proud that DC 37 was one of the first unions to support his candidacy.”

“His hard-fought campaign engaged a new generation of voters who are confronting a reality we know too well: the crisis of affordability and accessibility in the city we call home,” the statement continued. “Our work is not done, and we look forward to continuing the momentum for pro-labor candidates at the polls in November.”

Mamdani’s platform has led some business and finance leaders to predict a mass exodus of wealth from the city in the case of his election. Despite their concerns, he has stated that he hopes to find common ground with these leaders, and will work to quell fears during two days of meetings this week with the Partnership for New York City—a group of 350 members that represent banks, law firms and corporations. Mamdani said that while there is room to disagree, the ultimate goal remains doing what is best for the city.

Garrido responded to these fears at Tuesday’s event, stating: “With all due respect, I’ve heard the idea of power brokers. We are the power brokers.”

Moderate Democrats are scrambling to put their support behind one challenger to Mamdani amid a field that includes former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams, both of whom seem reluctant to drop their independent campaigns.

Cuomo officially announced his general election campaign on Monday, stating that he is “in it to win it” and calling Mamdani someone who “offers slick slogans, but no real solutions.”

Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo by over 12 points in the June 24 Democratic primary, took a swing at Cuomo’s record on changing pension plans while speaking to DC 37.

“We cannot ask ourselves why we cannot find the 15,000 workers who could fill the vacant positions today, if we are not willing to answer the question of who created Tier 6,” he said.

The democratic socialist has prided himself on running an on-the-ground primary campaign that utilized 50,000 volunteers who knocked on about 1 million doors. He reached the public fundraising cap by the end of March with over 18,000 individual donations.

“We overcame an incredible amount of money that was spent against us,” Mamdani said Tuesday. “The most funded Super PAC in New York City’s municipal history.”