Harris Offers a Cautious Endorsement of Mamdani in NYC Mayor’s Race
In a Monday MSNBC interview, the former vice president gave a half-hearted nod to Zohran Mamdani while urging focus on broader Democratic leadership across cities.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris offered a cautious, half-hearted endorsement of Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s high-profile mayoral contest during a Monday-night interview on MSNBC. Asked whether she endorses the Democratic socialist candidate, she answered with a polite, "Sure," then added: "Look, as far as I’m concerned, he’s the Democratic nominee, and he should be supported." Harris quickly pivoted to emphasize that her support extends to the Democratic nominee generally, not Mamdani alone.
She then stressed that Mamdani is not the only hopeful and that New York should not monopolize attention from the broader field of Democratic mayors around the country. "I support the Democrat in the race, sure," she said, before offering a broader note: "New Yorkers think they’re the center of the world... and here we are in New York having this interview." She added a light reminder of other mayors who are driving Democratic leadership elsewhere, saying, "there are people like Barbara Drummond in Mobile, Alabama, Helena Moreno in New Orleans. They’re all running for mayor too, and they are stars." Harris argued that the party should celebrate leadership beyond New York City and avoid over-indexing on one city at the expense of the nationwide field.
The endorsement dynamics in New York have been unsettled. Mamdani, whose platform includes socialist proposals and positions that have provoked tensions within the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party, has not secured endorsements from several top New York Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani last week, giving his campaign a notable boost as it seeks to consolidate support among party leaders ahead of the vote.
Harris’s appearance on Maddow marks her first television interview since leaving office, though she has appeared on late-night television in the months since. During the MSNBC interview, she also weighed in on the current presidency, calling former President Trump a “tyrant” and likening him to a “communist dictator.” She argued that capitalism functions within a democracy but warned that the United States faces a threat she framed as a tyrant using the federal government to push political aims based on ego.
The former vice president also touched on her forthcoming memoir, including an excerpt that has drawn headlines. In the book, she writes about the decision to choose Pete Buttigieg as her running mate, explaining that concerns about the risk of pairing a gay man with a black woman at the top of the ticket weighed into the consideration. Harris characterized that reflection as part of the complex calculus of a high-stakes campaign, saying, "Maybe I was being too cautious."
When asked about 2028 plans, Harris declined to rule out another White House bid, saying, "That’s not my focus right now. It’s not my focus at all. It really isn’t." Her comments come as she navigates the post–White House public sphere and the evolving dynamics of the Democratic Party as it grapples with candidates and messages across the country.
As Mamdani’s campaign continues to court support from both progressive and more centrist Democrats, the 2025 NYC mayoral race remains a litmus test for how the party balances ideology, regional priorities, and the visibility of national figures who may shape the 2026 and 2028 political landscape. Hochul’s endorsement of Mamdani contrasts with the lack of endorsements from several other high-profile party figures, underscoring the broader tensions within the party as it confronts a crowded field and divergent visions for urban policy, Israel and Palestinian issues, housing, and economic reform.
