New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has defended Gustavo Gordillo, the co-chair of the city's chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA), amid questions surrounding Gordillo's personal and professional background. Gordillo has faced criticism for claims that appear to conflict with his privileged upbringing and business dealings.
Mamdani, also a member of the DSA, declined to call for Gordillo's resignation, instead emphasizing the organization's internal processes for leadership selection. "The ‘D’ in DSA stands for Democratic, and I leave it to the organization and its own voting of who it is electing as its leaders," Mamdani said when asked about the controversy. He added that he welcomes "anyone who’s committed to" making New York a more inclusive and affordable city.
Gordillo, 38, has been accused of misrepresenting his background to bolster his working-class credentials. He resides in a $1.5 million home in the gentrified Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, a property purchased by his father in 2019 for $935,000 and now valued significantly higher. While Gordillo told The New York Times that he rents an apartment in nearby Crown Heights, his father confirmed to The Post that his son lives in the Brooklyn home.
Further scrutiny has fallen on Gordillo's claims of being a union electrician. While he has previously touted this profession and uses the handle @UnionGordillo on X, he stopped claiming affiliation with IBEW Local 3 in 2024, referring to himself as a more general union worker. Records indicate he joined the IBEW recently but have not shown completion of the seven-year journeyman program. Gordillo reportedly told The Times that he is no longer an electrician.
Gordillo, who graduated from Yale University with a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture, is an immigrant from Peru. His father founded Draftpros Inc., an engineering and consulting services firm, and owns substantial property in South Florida. Gordillo's family owns two homes in Florida valued at $3.1 million and $3 million respectively.
Before moving to New York, Gordillo worked at an art boutique in Chelsea but left, stating that selling expensive artwork conflicted with his values. He and his party co-chair recently secured annual salaries of $95,000 each, plus benefits, from the DSA.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul commented on the controversy, stating she had not spoken with DSA leadership and was too busy running the state to focus on the internal politics of local organizations. "I think what we’ve seen is very questionable and concerning, but I’m pretty busy running the rest of the state, that I’m not engaging in much thought about who local chapters of local entities pick as their leaders, and whether or not they bought their own home of their parents did, I really have a lot more to think about," Hochul said.