As city elections approach, political watchers are carefully eyeing Bronx-Queens U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in anticipation of a possible mayoral endorsement. Her backing could be a decisive factor for a progressive candidate hoping to gain ground on the current frontrunner, former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Ocasio-Cortez has reportedly met with City Comptroller Brad Lander and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani in recent weeks but has not announced whom she will endorse, or whether she intends to endorse at all. The Bronx Times reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office and has not yet heard back.
She shares some connection to the two candidates, with Ocasio-Cortez backing Lander’s Comptroller run in 2021, and, like Mamdani, has been affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America party.
The progressive Working Families Party may offer some clues. The party, which has supported AOC and other left-leaning candidates, has endorsed Lander, Mamdani, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie but has not yet announced its top choice.
As for those likely ruled out, Ocasio-Cortez told a CNN reporter that she will not endorse Andrew Cuomo, a more centrist candidate whom she said represents “the weight of the past” rather than “new leadership,” according to the CNN reporter’s March 4 post on X.
She is also unlikely to support Eric Adams, whom she did not endorse in 2021 and with whom she has repeatedly clashed over his 2024 federal bribery and corruption indictment. Ocasio-Cortez repeatedly called for Adams to resign or be removed by Gov. Kathy Hochul amid the case, which was ultimately dropped in early April.
Having launched her career in 2018 after being a bartender, Ocasio-Cortez has seen growing political influence — especially against the current Trump administration — and her endorsement could hold sway as many New York City voters just begin to pay attention to their options for New York City mayor, one of the country’s most powerful roles.
Hundreds of thousands have attended her “Fighting Oligarchy” nationwide tour with Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, which has brought out massive crowds against President Trump and advisor Elon Musk, even in conservative states like Utah and Idaho.
Those awaiting the AOC endorsement news may be in limbo a bit longer, as Ocasio-Cortez has been known to endorse late in the game
She endorsed civil rights attorney Maya Wiley in early June 2021, only about two weeks before the primary, which Politico called “one of the most consequential individual nods in the race so far.”
Though Wiley ultimately finished third, behind former sanitation commissioner Kathryn Garcia and Eric Adams as the winner, Ocasio-Cortez’s support received much hype, and Wiley’s candidacy was viewed as a hopeful sign ahead for Black women in political leadership.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
