After a surprising victory in the Democratic primary race for mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani has gained the support of two major labor unions that previously endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and 32BJ SEIU, representing a combined total of 125,000 workers in the city, have shifted their allegiance to Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist state assemblyman.
Adding to Mamdani’s growing list of endorsements is the New York State Nurses Association, which represents 30,000 members in the city. These unions have expressed confidence in Mamdani’s commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of workers in the hospitality and building service industries.
“We are confident that whenever we’re in a fight, Zohran will be on our side standing up for hospitality workers,” said Rich Maroko, president of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council. “That’s why we are genuinely excited to endorse Zohran and ready to help him win in November.”
While Cuomo has conceded the Democratic primary to Mamdani, he has not ruled out continuing his campaign for mayor. The unions’ decision to switch their support to Mamdani has been met with appreciation from the former governor’s campaign team.
Mamdani, who has faced discriminatory attacks following his primary win, expressed gratitude for the new endorsements. “This is a campaign for the working people of this city who deserve dignity on the job and neighborhoods they can afford,” Mamdani stated. “That’s exactly who HTC, 32BJ, and NYSNA fight and deliver for every single day, and I am honored to have their support.”
