CITYWIDE — U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the city’s best-known progressive, endorsed Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for mayor on Wednesday after a lively nine-candidate debate , aiming to unify the left wing of the city’s Democrats against moderate Andrew Cuomo in the June 24 Democratic primary, reports the New York Times .

Ranking City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams second and city Comptroller Brad Lander third, she praised Mamdani’s efforts to build a working-class coalition and his grassroots momentum.

Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform, including free buses and wealth taxes, mirrors Ocasio-Cortez’s vision, although his critical stance on Israel and relative political inexperience – Mamdani is only 33 years old – have left some voters leery.

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