Zohran Mamdani's 2028 game plan: NYC Mayor pushes for labour-aligned leftist presidential candidate — Report
Mamdani has been reportedly urging union leaders and progressive allies to coordinate early, arguing that the movement cannot afford to squander the momentum gained in the midterm elections.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is positioning himself as a progressive kingmaker in the run-up to the 2028 US presidential election, according to Axios. The mayor has been holding private talks with labor union leaders and progressive allies to gauge potential support for a left-leaning candidate. Mamdani emphasizes the importance of a labor-aligned candidate to capitalize on the momentum gained in the recent midterm elections.
Although ineligible to run for president, Mamdani aims to shape the field of potential Democratic candidates. He has met with Jimmy Williams Jr., president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, and Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, to discuss the 2028 presidential race and endorsement processes.
Mamdani is expected to meet with Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers (UAW), soon. The mayor's efforts come as progressives worry about a lack of prominent left-wing contenders in the 2028 Democratic presidential race. New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a close ally of Mamdani, is considering a Senate bid instead of a presidential campaign.
Mamdani has acknowledged uncertainty regarding Ocasio-Cortez's presidential plans, which could impact the Democratic primary and leave progressives searching for an alternative candidate.
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