Labor Unions Shift Endorsements to Zohran Mamdani in NYC Mayor's Race

Strategic Insights -

Powerful unions in New York City, including the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and Local 32BJ SEIU, are abandoning their support for former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and endorsing democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the mayor's race. The shift in endorsements comes as Mamdani leads in the Democratic primary and as the general election approaches. The unions' support will likely play a crucial role in ensuring Mamdani's victory in November.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, which represents over 40,000 hotel workers, has switched its endorsement from Andrew Cuomo to Zohran Mamdani.
  • Local 32BJ SEIU, representing around 85,000 building workers, has also abandoned its support for Cuomo and endorsed Mamdani.
  • The New York State Nurses Association has endorsed Mamdani, highlighting his commitment to affordability and working people.
  • The unions have promised to invest in boots-on-the-ground campaigns to help Mamdani win the election.
  • The switch in endorsements is seen as a nod to political reality, as the Democratic candidate is the heavy favorite to win in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans six to one.
  • The endorsements come at a pivotal time for Mamdani, who is working to gather the Democratic establishment behind him and strip Cuomo of institutional support.
  • Cuomo's campaign seemed resigned to having lost the union endorsements, with a campaign spokesman saying they appreciated and valued their support during the primary.
  • The Hotel and Gaming Trades Council contributed $1 million to a super PAC that supported Cuomo, and is now likely to fund an independent expenditure for Mamdani in the fall.
  • A hotel union official said that its efforts were largely responsible for Cuomo's double-digit leads in certain neighborhoods in Queens and the Bronx.

Statistics:

  • 40,000: The number of hotel workers represented by the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.
  • 85,000: The number of building workers represented by Local 32BJ SEIU.
  • 30,000: The number of members working at the city's public and private hospitals represented by the New York State Nurses Association.
  • $1 million: The amount contributed by the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council to a super PAC that supported Cuomo.
  • 6:1: The ratio of Democrats to Republicans in New York City.
  • 2021: The year when these unions backed Eric Adams in the mayor's primary.

Sources:

  • "The New York Times"
  • "Andrew Cuomo"
  • "Zohran Mamdani"
  • "Hotel and Gaming Trades Council"
  • "Local 32BJ SEIU"
  • "New York State Nurses Association"
  • "Rich Maroko"
  • "Rich Azzopardi"
  • "Manny Pastreich"
  • "Nancy Hagans"