Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is dropping the radical act, at least for now.
Ocasio-Cortez, along with other New York congressional Democrats, are endorsing Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul for reelection. Hochul generally pitches herself as a moderate Democrat. (REPORTED: Report On Ocasio-Cortez’s Political Ambitions Shows Exactly What We All Thought About Their Party)
Ocasio-Cortez and New York’s 18 other House Democrats announced their endorsement of Hochul on Friday, reports Politico. This marks a departure from form for Ocasio-Cortez, who did not make a primary endorsement in 2022, according to The New York Times (NYT).
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Hochul on Thursday, writing in The Nation,“Together, we have fought to protect New Yorkers from [Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE)]. Together, we have defended our party, our democracy, and the ability of working New Yorkers to raise a family in the city they love,” Mamdani claimed.
TODAY: New York Democrats @Tom_Suozzi, @JoshRileyUE & @LauraAGillen are partnering with Socialists Zohran Mamdani & AOC to endorse failing governor Kathy Hochul
Mamdani, AOC & the far-left socialists are calling the shots with Suozzi, Riley & Gillen falling in line pic.twitter.com/RB6twD9Ux5
— NRCC (@NRCC) February 6, 2026
“The governor and I do not agree on everything. We have real differences, particularly when it comes to taxation of the wealthiest, at a moment defined by profound income inequality,” Mamdani admits.
“At its best, the Democratic Party has been a big tent not because it avoids conflict but because it channels conflict toward progress.”
Quite the pivot from the aggressive tent-shrinking Democrats employed during the Biden administration. Just as the likes of Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez are willing to play the moderate to work with establishment Democrats, Hochul may be looking to Mamdani for clues on how to proceed.
“Governor Hochul and her team are attempting to address the affordability crisis for New Yorkers,” said Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the New York Working Families Party, according to the NYT. (RELATED: Far-Left Has Gone So Far Left That Even Ocasio-Cortez Too Moderate For Them)
“Of course, they also took note of the enthusiasm around Zohran’s win.”
Hochul was initially reluctant to endorse Mamdani for mayor.
“We’re six months away from Inauguration Day, and that will determine who I’m working with for the next four years,” Hochul said in June 2025, according to the New York Post. Hochul took issue with Mamdani’s “tax-the-rich” rhetoric, saying, “I’m focused on affordability and raising taxes on anyone does not accomplish that.”
Hochul eventually relented, endorsing Mamdani for mayor in September 2025. Mamdani returned the favor by snubbing Hochul days later. When asked if he would endorse Hochul for reelection, Mamdani told reporters his focus would remain “on November.”
Certainly, working together is a better strategy than engaging in vicious and public infighting. In doing so, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez will probably lose the favor of die-hard lefties, but such is the price of politics.
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