Two of the biggest progressive stars in the country are taking a split path on endorsements in messy Democratic primaries, leaving some Democrats reading the tea leaves for what it means for their political futures.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a trio of insurgent candidates in House races, including two who are challenging Democratic incumbents, while staying out of contentious state legislative primaries. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is supporting several Democratic Socialists of America candidates in competitive New York state legislative races, while so far staying out of contentious congressional primaries.
The seemingly complementary slates, when combined, cover most of DSA’s endorsed candidates, leading some consultants to speculate that the pair “divided and conquered,” as one put it. They’re also a sign of the pair’s diverging political realities, more than a half-dozen New York Democratic strategists said.