Mamdani Leads NYC Race Amid Endorsements, Scrutiny

Former President Barack Obama called New York mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani for about 30 minutes, praising his campaign and offering to be a sounding board but not making an endorsement. Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist and state assemblyman born in Uganda, is leading polls against rivals including Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa and has drawn national attention and substantial small-dollar fundraising. He has picked up high-profile endorsements from figures such as Kamala Harris and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Mamdani's campaign uses cinematic social-media tactics, influencer partnerships and distinctive personal branding that have mobilized a young, engaged constituency. He has faced sharp criticism over his statements on the Israel–Gaza war, including ads labeling him a "radical Islamist" and attacks for not explicitly saying Hamas should lay down its arms, prompting debate within the Democratic Party.