Gov. Kathy Hochul’s endorsement of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani prompted a wave of criticism from readers in letters published by the New York Post, with correspondents accusing the governor of pandering to the political left and questioning her judgment ahead of the November election.
The letters, collected under the Post’s Sept. 17, 2025, letters-to-the-editor feature, accused Hochul of abandoning principle for political expediency, criticized Mamdani’s platform and raised concerns about public safety and antisemitism. Several writers connected the endorsement to Hochul’s broader political calculations, including a possible 2026 re-election bid.
"Oh, gov us a break, Hochul," one letter said, echoing language used in a Post editorial, and said the governor had endorsed "the socialist, antisemitic Zohran Mamdani." Several writers listed specific grievances they attribute to Mamdani, including support for defunding police and other policies they called "radical socialist ideas." Other letter writers accused Hochul of lacking loyalty and political backbone, with one saying she would not have become governor without former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Beyond policy objections, some correspondents framed the endorsement as a tactical move. One writer said Hochul backed Mamdani because he is the front-runner and she is seeking votes ahead of her own next campaign. Another letter cited what it said was the governor’s justification — that Mamdani would "do everything to stop President Trump" — and questioned why opposition to the former president should factor into a local mayoral endorsement.
The letters drew on a range of personal and political grievances. Writers from Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island described concerns that a Mamdani administration would harm public safety or drive residents from the city. Others tied Hochul’s decision to recent policy disputes at the state level, including congestion pricing, and to the city’s recent political history.
The Post’s letters page noted that letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy and style. Letters to the editor represent the views of the writers and are not news reporting; the publication said the correspondence was submitted in response to both the governor’s endorsement and a related Post editorial published earlier in September.
Hochul’s formal endorsement of Mamdani, a progressive who has positioned himself as an alternative to more centrist or establishment candidates, marked a notable alignment between the state executive and a leading mayoral contender. The endorsement has become a flashpoint in a mayoral contest where public safety, housing, economic recovery and the city’s relationship with state government are central issues.
Mamdani, who has drawn both enthusiastic support and sharp criticism, has repeatedly described his priorities as addressing inequality and investing in community-based public safety strategies. Critics, including several of the letter writers, have characterized some of his positions as hostile to law enforcement and insufficiently supportive of Israel, accusations that Mamdani and his campaign have disputed or sought to clarify in public statements.
As the November election approaches, endorsements from statewide figures are likely to remain a focus of debate among voters and interest groups. The exchange on the letters page underscores the polarized tenor of local political discourse and the degree to which statewide officials’ interventions in city races can provoke reaction across the city’s diverse neighborhoods.