By: Mario Mancini

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul insisted Saturday that she is no supporter of the Democratic Socialists of America and that New York City will continue as a capitalist stronghold — even after card-carrying DSA member Zohran Mamdani assumes the mayor’s office in January, the New York Post first reported.

“I don’t support them. I’ve made that clear,” Hochul said, referring to the DSA while addressing criticism from Republican gubernatorial candidate Elise Stefanik over her endorsement of Mamdani. Stefanik, who launched her 2026 campaign Friday, called Hochul out for “cozying up” to a “defund-the-police, tax-hiking, antisemitic Communist” in Mamdani, repeatedly labeling the governor the “worst governor in America.”

Hochul brushed off Stefanik’s attacks, telling reporters at the annual SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico, “I really don’t care what she says.” As the New York Post first reported, Hochul emphasized that her priority is ensuring New York City’s success under its new mayor, even if his political ideology differs sharply from hers.

“I think [Partnership for New York CEO] Kathy Wylde spoke about the different stages of grief,” Hochul said. “And I’ve spent a lot of time reaching out to people to say … ‘I’m not going to root against New York City; we need this next mayor to be successful.’”

Hochul reiterated that the city’s economic framework will remain market-driven. “And this will still remain a capitalist city focused on our legacy industries that must prosper because they’re the ones who generate the economic revenue — the revenue that we use to have programs that lift our people up,” she said, according to the Post first reported.

The governor also addressed concerns from the business community over potential new spending initiatives promised by Mamdani, including free bus service. Hochul insisted she will not raise state income taxes to support any of the mayor-elect’s proposals. “If you look at the history of people who’ve run multi-million dollar ad campaigns to try and get me to change my position, I don’t change my position,” she said, dismissing criticism despite her past policy reversals on issues like congestion tolling.

“What is doable is the question,” Hochul added. “It’s kind of a collision course right now. Our ambitions are big, and I believe in them, and I want to accomplish them. We also have to figure out, like, okay, ‘now I’m in the hole $3 billion already on Medicaid cuts — $750 million this year I had to make up on Medicaid cuts.’ So if Republicans would stop doing that, and I got back to my normal budgeting cycle, it looks a lot easier,” the Post first reported.

Throughout the remarks, Hochul emphasized pragmatism over ideology, signaling that while she supported Mamdani’s bid for mayor, she intends to maintain New York State’s fiscal discipline and commitment to market-based economic policies. “Our ambitions are big, but we also have to be realistic about what can be delivered,” she said, echoing sentiments the New York Post first reported.