Zohran Mamdani Wins Major Endorsement

Photo: UFT/Pat Arnow

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY – Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has landed a major boost in his campaign, earning the endorsement of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), one of the city’s most influential labor unions.

With just over 100 days until the general election, the UFT — representing over 200,000 teachers and education professionals — voted to back Mamdani over incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. This marks Mamdani’s most significant endorsement to date.

Calling it “the campaign of working people,” Mamdani celebrated the decision, positioning himself as the labor candidate in the race. A vocal critic of charter schools, he has pledged to expand the city’s public teaching workforce and increase investment in education.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew pointed to Mamdani’s stance on housing affordability and his commitment to bolstering public school funding as key reasons for the union’s support. He also cited Mamdani’s openness to sharing mayoral control of the school system with a broader coalition — a shift from nearly two decades of centralized authority under successive mayors.

While the union did not endorse during the Democratic primary due to internal divisions, its general election endorsement signals growing momentum behind Mamdani. Several other major unions, including the New York State Nurses Association, SEIU 32BJ, the Hotel Trades Council, and the New York City Central Labor Council, have also announced support for his candidacy.

One major union — DC 37, the city’s largest — has yet to weigh in on the general election, pointed out ABC News, after backing City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams in the primary.