NEW YORKCITY, July 1, 2025 – Assembly member Zohran Mamdani received a resounding endorsement from the New York City Central Labor Council (NYCCLC), representing over 300 unions and more than one million workers, on June 30, 2025. The historic backing solidifies Mamdani’s position as the Democratic nominee for mayor following his primary victory last week, a race that saw former Governor Andrew Cuomo concede defeat. In a post on X, Mamdani expressed gratitude, calling the endorsement “a profound honor and a responsibility to deliver for working people,” while pledging to uphold this trust daily as mayor.
The NYCCLC’s decision, announced with broad support, highlights Mamdani’s appeal to the city’s labor movement, rooted in his experience as a housing counselor in Queens. This background resonates amid New York’s acute housing crisis, where 2024 Census data reveals nearly a quarter of Astoria residents spend over half their income on rent. The endorsement aligns with Mamdani’s campaign promises to address affordability, including a proposal to raise the city’s minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030 and explore municipally-run grocery stores, ideas gaining traction in cities like Chicago.
Mamdani’s rise reflects a broader trend of labor unions backing progressive candidates, a strategy that proved successful during his 2021 Assembly win, supported by figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The NYCCLC, a powerful force in city politics since its founding in 1959, praised Mamdani’s campaign for inspiring new voters and mobilizing thousands around an agenda focused on working-class resiliency, as noted in their official statement.
The endorsement comes amid international attention on Mamdani, particularly his vocal stance on the Gaza humanitarian crisis. Since the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and sparked a devastating conflict, Mamdani has advocated for Palestinian rights. By June 2025, the United Nations reported over 40,000 deaths in Gaza, with nearly two million displaced—a crisis that has drawn global solidarity, including Malaysia’s recent leadership in The Hague Group, a coalition of nine nations launched in January 2025 to pressure Israel legally and diplomatically.
Reactions on X ranged from celebration by supporters, with one user dubbing him “the people’s mayor,” to criticism from detractors questioning his seven years of U.S. citizenship and ties to controversial figures like Ali Abunimah. Despite the polarized discourse, Mamdani’s labor-backed momentum positions him as a transformative figure in New York’s political landscape as the general election approaches.