Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, influential in some areas Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani struggled to succeed in within the main, declared the democratic socialist as “best candidate in the race” on Friday.
In his remarks, Richards referred to as on different Democrats to get behind Mamdani’s imaginative and prescient for town, saying that “now is not the time to sit on the fence” as working folks proceed to battle throughout the 5 boroughs.
“Count me in as a Democratic socialist,” mentioned Richards, a reasonable Democrat, including that Mamdani’s populist insurance policies weren’t purely “socialist” concepts however “humane” ones.
Mamdani thanked Richards for the endorsement and lauded him as having “showcased for so long across this borough and across the city what it means to fight for working people.”
Richards’ endorsement is a boon for Mamdani’s marketing campaign, because it has struggled to succeed in extra conservative Democrats in key areas of Queens, the place the beep is influential. He didn’t give an endorsement within the Democratic mayoral main, and he endorsed Mayor Adams in 2021.
“This is not about socialism,” Richards mentioned on the Richmond Hill look. “It’s not about establishment. This is about working people and ensuring that working people can thrive and survive in this very city that’s becoming out of reach.”
Mamdani is predicted to face off towards Andrew Cuomo, Adams, Republican Curtis Sliwa and impartial Jim Walden in November’s normal election.
Friday’s cease marked the final of Mamdani’s week-long five-borough anti-Trump tour. Over the week of marketing campaign stops, a variety of officers from throughout the Democratic political spectrum voiced their assist for the candidate.
Initially Revealed: August 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM EDT
