Zohran Mamdani refuses to back Hochul for re-election after she endorsed him in NYC mayoral race: ‘[She] got played’

Zohran Mamdani refused to back Gov. Kathy Hochul for re-election after she gave the lefty Democratic mayoral nominee her coveted endorsement.

Hochul on Sunday endorsed Mamdani in the November mayoral race, claiming to have found common ground with the democratic socialist, including on the issue of affordability.

But Mamdani on Monday declined to return the favor, and did not pledge his backing of Hochul’s re-election bid next year — at least for the time being.

He told reporters it was premature to ask about “the thing beyond the thing.”

“My focus is on November, and I’m excited to have the governor’s support in that fight for November,” Mamdani said.

The apparent snub raised eyebrows, including from Rep. Elise Stefanik — a potential Republican gubernatorial opponent — who said it made Hochul look weak.

“Even Mamdani refuses to support Kathy Hochul less than 24 hours after she endorsed him!” the upstate New York congresswoman said in a statement Tuesday on X.

Veteran campaign strategist Hank Sheinkopf said it showed political influence leaning toward Mamdani and his fellow far-left Democratic Socialists of America members.

“No good deed goes unpunished. Hochul looks weak,” Sheinkopf, who runs the pro-law enforcement, anti-Mamdani super PAC Protect the Protectors, told The Post.

“Mamdani looks like he’s the head of the Democratic Party in New York, not the governor. This shows the power shift. Mamdani and his movement are in charge,” Sheinkopf said.

Yiatin Chu, of the citywide group Asian Wave Alliance, added: “Hochul got played.”

“Mamdani got Hochul’s endorsement. Like sharks, DSA smells blood,” Chu wrote on X.

Hochul, as governor, is considered the leader of the Empire State’s Democratic Party, and her endorsement of its nominee for mayor would normally be expected.

But Mamdani’s brand of democratic socialism is deeply unpopular in the suburbs and upstate and even parts of the city, making Hochul’s endorsement controversial.

State Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs, who is also the Nassau County Democratic leader and a close Hochul ally, said he would not be endorsing Mamdani.

Mamdani, a two-term Queens assemblyman, was a Hochul antagonist through last year.

Hochul, during a speech before the UJA Federation last year, joked about obliterating Canada if it attacked New York, while she slammed Hamas over the terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

“If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I’m sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day,” she said.

Mamdani pounced with a withering statement on X after posting Hochul’s videotaped comments

“Governor Hochul justifying genocide, while laughing. Disgusting,” Mamdani wrote at the time.

One Democratic insider said Mamdani’s refusal to reciprocate an endorsement of Hochul shows that the candidate and his leftist coalition that includes the DSA are gaining ground in the party.

Mamdani’s ability to turn out younger and first time voters was key to his victory over ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June.

“I was surprised that she endorsed him, but he didn’t endorse her,” Cuomo said Tuesday when asked about Hochul’s backing.

“I don’t think these endorsements mean anything.”

The Democratic Party source noted that Hochul will likely need Mamdani’s turnout operation to win re-election next year.

“Zohran holds the cards. Hochul needs Mamdani’s turnout operation in New York City to win re-election next year,” the source said.

A Hochul campaign rep said the campaign will formally roll out endorsements in the coming months while declining to directly address Mamdani’s non-endorsement.

Meanwhile, a Siena College poll released Tuesday claimed Hochul led Stefanik 52% to 27% among registered voters in a potential match-up. But Republican sources said the survey is not believable, saying it over-samples New York City and under-sampled Republicans.

— Additional reporting by Hannah Fierick