Harris offers guarded endorsement of Mamdani in NYC mayoral race

Former Vice President Kamala Harris offered a half-hearted endorsement of New York City mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani on Monday night, telling MSNBC host Rachel Maddow that she supports the Democratic nominee but paused before committing to campaign support.

“Look, as far as I’m concerned, he’s the Democratic nominee, and he should be supported,” Harris said. “I support the Democrat in the race, sure.” She quickly pivoted to discuss other Democrats in other cities running for mayor, arguing that Mamdani is “not the only star.” “I know that [Mamdani’s] in New York, and I know New Yorkers think they’re the center of the world,” she added, joking as she noted, “and here we are in New York having this interview.”

She then framed the point as a broader message to the party, saying there are “stars” across the country who deserve attention beyond New York City: “But I mean, 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.”

Mamdani’s socialist views and anti-Israel rhetoric have sparked a major rift among progressives and moderates in the party. He has yet to secure 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.

Harris’s appearance on Maddow marks her first television news interview since leaving office, though the former vice president had appeared earlier on late-night television. On MSNBC, Harris called President Trump a “tyrant” and likened him to a “communist dictator.” “Capitalism thrives in a democracy, and right now we are dealing with, as I called him at my speech on the ellipse, a tyrant,” she said, framing the moment as a test of democracy and urging the nation’s industry titans to act as guard rails against the President’s approach.

The discussion also touched on her forthcoming book, “107 Days,” in which she explained that she did not choose Pete Buttigieg to be her running mate because of concerns that his being openly gay presented “too big of a risk” for the ticket. “Maybe I was being too cautious,” she acknowledged in referencing the high-stakes 2020 race. The remarks came as she was asked whether she plans another White House bid in 2028, to which she replied, “That’s not my focus right now. It’s not my focus at all. It really isn’t.”

The interview underscores Harris’s continuing influence as Democrats weigh endorsements in other races while navigating internal divisions over Mamdani’s platform and rhetoric. The clash over New York City’s mayoral race — including Hochul’s backing of Mamdani and the absence of formal endorsements from Schumer and Jeffries — remains a point of contention within the party as the campaign winds toward primary day. Harris’s cautious stance signals a willingness to back Democratic nominees without fully embracing them, a posture that could shape how party leaders approach coalition-building in major metropolitan contests.