Elizabeth Warren Says Democratic Socialist Mamdani is the Future for Democratic Party [WATCH]
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts publicly voiced her support for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani during a visit to the city on Monday, praising the Democratic socialist’s economic platform as aligned with the core messaging of the Democratic Party.
Mamdani, who won the Democratic nomination for mayor in June, has yet to secure broad support from many of New York’s Democratic establishment leaders.
Still, Warren said she believes Mamdani represents the direction the party should be moving.
Speaking at an affordable childcare event in New York City, Warren said Mamdani is focused on addressing the financial struggles of working families and should be seen as a model for the party nationwide.
“Come talk about affordability for families,” Warren said, responding to critics of Mamdani’s policies.
“This is who Democrats fight for, and Zohran is on the front lines in that fight out there fighting for families.”
When asked directly if Mamdani represents what the Democratic Party should look like, Warren replied, “You bet.”
Mamdani, a state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, has proposed a series of economic reforms including higher taxes on wealthy residents and expanded city services.
His platform has drawn criticism from business leaders and moderate Democrats who say his policies could harm New York City’s economy.
Earlier in the day, Warren appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” and was pressed by host David Faber about the economic implications of Mamdani’s tax proposals.
“You mentioned Mamdani and you are in New York sort of speaking on behalf of him to a certain extent,” Faber said.
“New York does not operate in a vacuum. It competes with other cities. And so this idea of somehow raising taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers, who, by the way, would point out pay roughly 15 percent of their income right now between city and state. Raising taxes on them will simply drive them away.”
Faber continued, “Shouldn’t the focus of a mayor be on delivering services to the constituents of the city and doing that by raising the most revenue as possible without chasing businesses and the high-income taxpayers out of the city? Because they can go to Austin.
They can go to Dallas. They can go to Atlanta. They can go to Nashville. This is your issue. It’s a national issue, not a local issue.”
Warren responded by emphasizing the rising cost of living in New York and insisted that economic relief for residents should be the priority. “New Yorkers can’t afford groceries or housing in the city,” Warren said.
Faber pushed back, asking, “But raising taxes in order to do it – why is that the answer?”
To that, Warren replied, “Oh dear, are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry?”
Mamdani’s nomination has energized left-leaning activists in the city, but he still faces skepticism from party leaders and key stakeholders who have not yet committed to endorsing his campaign for mayor.
The general election is expected to draw national attention as debates over taxation, affordability, and economic migration continue to shape political platforms across the country.
