On Election Eve Mamdani Rallies Support As Obama Offers Quiet Encouragement

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY — “Early this morning, our city still in darkness, I set off to walk the Brooklyn Bridge,” Zohran Mamdani wrote on social media on November 3. “As the sun came up, we were joined by canvassers, labor leaders, elected officials, working people — a movement to bring a new day to our city. Tomorrow, we win it together.”

The post, shared on the eve of New York City’s mayoral election, captured the defiant optimism of a campaign that has drawn both grassroots enthusiasm and quiet validation from one of the most influential Democrats in America: former President Barack Obama.

According to The New York Times, Obama spoke privately with Mamdani over the weekend, commending his campaign and offering to serve as a “sounding board” in the future. The 30-minute call — their second since the Democratic primary — reflected Obama’s growing interest in mentoring the next wave of political leaders who are reshaping the party’s identity.

“Your campaign has been impressive to watch,” Obama reportedly told Mamdani, saying he was “invested in his success” beyond Tuesday’s election.

While Obama has refrained from issuing a formal endorsement — consistent with his post-presidency approach of avoiding local races — his outreach has not gone unnoticed. Mamdani’s campaign spokesperson, Dora Pekec, said the candidate “appreciated President Obama’s words of support and their conversation on bringing a new kind of politics to our city.”

Within the Democratic Party, Mamdani’s rise has sparked both excitement and unease. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not endorsed him, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced his support only as early voting began.

Obama, who has likened his current role to that of a “coach” rather than a “player,” has emphasized his mission of “lifting up and shining a spotlight on the next generation of leadership and talent.”

A person close to Obama told The New York Times that the former president sees Mamdani’s campaign as emblematic of that new leadership — one that emerges independently, energized by ideals of equity and grassroots empowerment.