New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Lindsey Boylan — the primary lady to publicly accuse former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment — in a Metropolis Council race on Friday, his newest try to wield his political clout to affect Democratic contests.
Boylan “represents the type of fearless management this second calls for,” Mamdani mentioned in a press release.
“She has proven a willingness to inform exhausting truths, to problem entrenched energy, and to face up for working folks even when it isn’t straightforward. That braveness issues,” he mentioned.
Mamdani ran towards Cuomo for mayor final yr, beating him as soon as within the Democratic major, then once more within the common election after the previous governor ran as a third-party candidate. Throughout that race, Boylan often demonstrated exterior Cuomo marketing campaign occasions to attract consideration to the harassment scandal that drove him from energy.
The endorsement got here as Mamdani, who vaulted from relative obscurity to turn out to be a nationwide progressive star final yr, has wasted little time testing whether or not his potent model can carry a couple of leftward shift in New York politics.
Simply after successful the mayoral election, Mamdani endorsed Brad Lander, a former Metropolis Corridor challenger, in a race towards U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, who has the help of many reasonable Democrats, together with one of many mayor’s greatest allies, Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Days after Mamdani took workplace, he waded into one other race when he backed Claire Valdez, a democratic socialist state lawmaker, to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez. The incumbent has favored a distinct inheritor for her seat in Brooklyn and Queens, placing her at odds with Mamdani after she supported him within the mayor’s race.
In Boylan’s contest, Mamdani’s endorsement is counter to Council Speaker Julie Menin, who has endorsed one other candidate for the open seat in Manhattan, because the pair of leaders duel over the town’s funds woes.
Mamdani, in his endorsement, acknowledged a wider goal: constructing help within the Metropolis Council.
“As we work to usher in a brand new period in our metropolis’s politics, and advance our affordability agenda, I would like companions within the work like Lindsey and that’s why I’m proud to endorse her marketing campaign for Metropolis Council,” he mentioned.
Boylan, who beforehand had unsuccessful runs for Congress and Manhattan borough president, mentioned she was honored to get the mayor’s endorsement.
“I used to be proud to help the Mayor in his marketing campaign to carry affordability and alter to New York Metropolis,” she mentioned. Her Metropolis Council particular election is on April 28.
In 2020, Boylan accused Cuomo of sexually harassing her when she was an financial improvement adviser his administration. She mentioned he subjected her to an undesirable kiss and inappropriate feedback.
Cuomo has denied the allegations. He resigned in 2021 after a report launched by the state lawyer common concluded that he had sexually harassed 11 girls, together with Boylan.
Requested about Mamdani’s endorsement Friday, Cuomo spokesperson Wealthy Azzopardi mentioned the previous governor “by no means harassed anybody.” He additionally assailed Boylan as “a perennial candidate” unworthy of help.
“Mamdani endorsing her tells you every little thing you must find out about him and his new period,” Azzopardi mentioned.
