Former US President Barack Obama called New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, praising his election campaign and offering to serve as a “trusted sounding board” if the candidate is successful.
The approximately 30-minute phone call did not include a formal endorsement, but political analysts view the conversation as a strong signal of Obama’s support for the Democratic Socialist candidate, especially as many top Democratic leaders have been slow to publicly embrace the 34-year-old.
Praise for the Campaign
Two individuals with knowledge of the call, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Barack Obama spoke glowingly of Zohran Mamdani’s campaign efforts. Referencing his own political past, Obama noted how few mistakes Mamdani had made during such an intense campaign.
“Your campaign has been impressive to watch,” Obama reportedly told Mamdani.
The former President also expressed his interest in Mamdani’s success after Tuesday’s election, with discussions touching on the initial challenges of running a new administration, including staffing and delivering on campaign pledges.
Obama offered to act as a “sounding board” for advice and discussion on any issue should Mamdani win the election. They also made preliminary plans to meet in Washington in the future, though no date was finalized.
A Signal of Support from the ‘Coach’
Since leaving the Oval Office, Barack Obama has generally avoided direct intervention in local-level elections. This was their second phone call since Mamdani’s primary victory in June, marking a significant gesture given the context.
The call is a critical sign of backing, particularly when many of the Democratic Party’s most prominent figures have visibly kept their distance from the progressive candidate. Obama’s former spokesman and advisor, Patrick Gaspard, noted that the fact the news of the call became public was an “important signaler” of validation to the political establishment, the business community, and voters.
Obama has sought to reframe his post-presidency role from “player” to “coach,” and his close circle suggests he views Mamdani as an example of a new generation of independent, emerging leaders.
Democratic Divisions and Republican Strategy
The conversation highlights the divisions within the Democratic establishment. New York Senator and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has yet to publicly state whether he will vote for Mamdani, telling reporters this week, “We’re continuing to talk.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries waited until the eve of early voting to offer his endorsement.
Meanwhile, Republicans have seized on Mamdani’s candidacy, attempting to portray him as a symbol of the entire Democratic Party. The House Republicans’ campaign arm stated this week that they would make Mamdani “synonymous with the Democratic Party across the country,” framing the race as a “national narrative of a party capitulating to socialism and the far left.”
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who represents a district in Queens, upset former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June. Cuomo is now running in the general election as an independent candidate against Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Recent polls consistently show Zohran Mamdani as the frontrunner with a commanding, double-digit lead over his opponents heading into the election.
