Michael Goodwin, an opinion columnist for the New York Post, on Tuesday sharply criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent endorsement of progressive mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, saying the move demonstrates that New York Democrats put party considerations ahead of the city’s well‑being.
In a column headlined on the paper’s website, Goodwin called the endorsement “cowardly” and accused Hochul of "kowtowing" to Mamdani. He wrote that the governor’s support shattered what he described as a perceived wall of resistance among Democrats to Mamdani’s policy positions and predicted other prominent state Democrats would follow Hochul in endorsing the candidate.
Goodwin framed the endorsement as a political calculation rather than a policy-driven decision, saying Hochul’s backing came despite her previously stated objections to several of Mamdani’s proposals. Goodwin cited Hochul’s earlier comments opposing tax increases, so‑called government supermarkets and other measures attributed to Mamdani, and said Hochul offered no evidence she had won concessions that would change their potential impact.
The columnist warned that endorsing a progressive candidate could complicate the state’s ability to secure federal support, noting that Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Goodwin argued that backing a candidate he termed a “socialist” could undercut outreach to Republican leaders in Washington, though he acknowledged such assertions as part of his opinion.
Goodwin also wrote that Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and other leading Democrats were likely to endorse Mamdani soon and suggested national Democratic figures such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could follow. Those potential endorsements were presented in the column as evidence of party unity taking precedence over independent judgment.
The column referenced polling data from a Siena College survey reported by Goodwin’s piece showing Gov. Hochul with a 52% to 27% lead over Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik in a hypothetical 2026 matchup. Goodwin said the poll underscored the importance of city voters’ decisions in statewide contests, arguing that New York City turnout has historically been decisive in statewide races.
Goodwin placed the mayoral contest in that context, arguing that Mamdani benefits from a divided field of opponents and that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa could split anti‑Mamdani voters. He wrote that, in his view, a one‑on‑one matchup could favor Cuomo but noted the current three‑way split posed risks for opponents of Mamdani.
In addition to criticizing Hochul, Goodwin used the column to attack The New York Times’ coverage of former President Donald Trump and to question the paper’s response to a libel lawsuit Mr. Trump filed against the Times. He cited a memo from Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger describing the lawsuit as “frivolous” and said the newspaper had abandoned standards of fairness in its coverage of Mr. Trump. The memo and the lawsuit were noted in the column as part of a broader critique of media coverage and institutional bias.
Hochul’s office and Mamdani’s campaign did not provide comment for Goodwin’s column beyond the public statements each has issued about the endorsement and campaign policy positions. The governor has defended her endorsement in public statements that said she believed Mamdani had the qualities to lead the city through current challenges; Mamdani has described his platform as progressive and focused on issues such as housing and public safety.
The New York mayoral primary and subsequent general election are unfolding amid heightened interest in how urban politics in New York City will intersect with statewide and national contests. New York State has not elected a Republican governor since George Pataki’s 2002 victory, and Democratic performance in the five boroughs has long been a decisive factor in statewide outcomes, a dynamic commentators frequently cite when assessing electoral strategy.
Goodwin’s column ran Sept. 16 on the New York Post website and reflects the columnist’s view of party dynamics and electoral strategy in New York. The piece joins broader debate among commentators, elected officials and voters over which candidates and coalitions best position the city and state for federal engagement, crime reduction and economic stability as campaign season progresses.