Obama calls Mamdani signaling support without endorsement | JQJO

Former President Barack Obama privately phoned New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, praising his campaign and offering to serve as a sounding board if he wins. The roughly 30-minute call, the second since Mamdani’s primary victory, stopped short of a formal endorsement but signaled support as Democratic leaders remain split; Senator Chuck Schumer has not declared his vote, while Representative Hakeem Jeffries offered late backing. Obama and Mamdani discussed staffing and affordability goals and floated a future meeting. Meanwhile, Republicans aim to cast Mamdani as emblematic of Democrats, and Andrew Cuomo highlights an old critical tweet.