Former President Barack Obama declined to endorse New York mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, the New York Post reported on Sunday.
Obama was in nearby Newark to campaign for New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill over the weekend, ahead of Tuesday’s election, but did not come to New York City to do the same for Mamdani, though he spoke with him on the phone.
Mamdani campaign adviser Patrick Gaspard, who served as director of the White House Office of Political Affairs and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa under Obama, downplayed his lack of endorsement, telling to the Post that “President Obama doesn’t endorse in local races. That’s a longstanding rule post-presidency. 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, the Post noted that Obama’s so-called “endorsement rule” appears flexible, as he has endorsed numerous mayoral candidates over the years.
Republican strategist Rob Ryan argued the nonendorsement shows “even Barack Obama realizes Mamdani is bad for New York and the Democratic Party. Obama is trying to protect other Democrats from the stain of supporting a communist for mayor in America’s greatest city.”
Veteran political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who worked on Democrat Bill Clinton’s presidential reelection campaign, added to the Post that “Obama is being very careful. An Obama endorsement of Mamdani could be used against Democrats across the country next year in close elections when they’re trying to back the House.”
Other leading Democrats — such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who represents New York, and the state’s other senator, Kirsten Gillibrand — have also declined to endorse anyone in New York City’s mayoral race.
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