Obama refuses to endorse Zohran Mamdani ahead of NYC mayoral election

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 4, 2025 07:11 IST

Former US President Barack Obama has refused to endorse New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, despite speaking with him by phone on Saturday. According to The New York Post, Mamdani campaign adviser Patrick Gaspard, who once served as Obama’s White House political director and US ambassador to South Africa, tried to brush off the former president’s silence.

“President Obama doesn’t endorse in local races. That’s a longstanding rule post-presidency,” Gaspard told The New York Post. “He endorses in general election races for federal office and governors. His call to Zohran is a huge boost at a critical moment and a signal to New Yorkers.”

However, Obama’s so-called “no-local-endorsement” rule appears flexible. The 44th president has supported several mayoral candidates in the past — including Bill de Blasio in New York City’s 2013 race, Karen Bass and Eric Garcetti in Los Angeles, and Rahm Emanuel in Chicago. He’s even weighed in on smaller city contests, backing Rick Kriseman for mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Caroline Simmons in Stamford, Connecticut.

While Obama was just across the Hudson River on Saturday campaigning for New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill at a rally in Newark, he did not cross into New York City to publicly back Mamdani ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Mamdani spokeswoman Dora Pekec emphasised that the candidate appreciated Obama’s outreach.

“Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obama’s words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city,” Pekec told The New York Post.

Still, political strategists suggest Obama’s silence speaks volumes. Republican analyst Rob Ryan told The Post that the decision reflects unease within the Democratic establishment.

“Even Barack Obama realizes Mamdani is bad for New York and the Democratic Party,” Ryan said. “Obama is trying to protect other Democrats from the stain of supporting a communist for mayor in America’s greatest city.”

Adding to Mamdani’s headwinds, both Donald Trump and Elon Musk have also refused to back him.

Musk, who has frequently criticised progressive economic policies, recently called Mamdani a “charismatic swindler” during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. He warned that Mamdani’s platform would “cause a major decline in living standards” and urged voters to support former Governor Andrew Cuomo instead, calling him a “realist alternative.”

Trump, in an interview on 60 Minutes, similarly described Cuomo as “the lesser evil.” “I’d rather see Cuomo — a bad Democrat — run the city than a communist,” Trump said.

With major national figures from across the political spectrum withholding their backing, Mamdani faces intensifying scrutiny just days before New Yorkers head to the polls.

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