By: Daisy Fay Buchanan

In a surprising shift of political loyalty, Democratic leaders on Staten Island are now rallying around Zohran Mamdani – just weeks after endorsing former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the June Democratic primary. Cuomo is continuing his bid for mayor as an independent candidate, and many critics are labeling the Democrats’ newfound support for Mamdani as politically forced and opportunistic.

“Zohran is the Democratic nominee. The voters have spoken,” said Laura Lo Bianco Sword, who chairs the Staten Island Democratic Party, in comments first reported by the New York Post. “We want to work together. I want to make sure Staten Island has a seat at the table.”

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, emerged victorious in the primary and is preparing to officially launch his general election campaign with a high-profile event on Staten Island set for August 17, according to his campaign. As the NY Post noted, his team views the rally as a key opportunity to expand support beyond his progressive base.

In the general election, Mamdani will face Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, along with independents Cuomo and current Mayor Eric Adams. Despite the ideological gaps, Mamdani has already begun outreach to Democratic power players, including those in Queens and Brooklyn who had previously supported Cuomo, the NY Post reported.

Brooklyn Democratic Chair Rodneyse Bichotte, who backed Cuomo in the primary, pivoted to supporting Mamdani after his nomination. According to Post insiders, Mamdani has also been actively in contact with Democratic officials in southeast Queens – an area with a large Black voting base that leaned heavily toward Cuomo in the primary.

Lo Bianco Sword credited Mamdani for energizing new voters and called his campaign an opportunity to bring more people into the Democratic fold. While acknowledging that some of his policies – including government-run grocery stores and higher taxes on the wealthy – are controversial, she told the Post that the candidate is at least addressing real problems such as food insecurity.

In the primary, Cuomo narrowly beat Mamdani in Staten Island, winning 46.5% to Mamdani’s 37.5% in the first round of ranked-choice voting. Despite that margin, Democratic leaders are now uniting behind Mamdani – a development that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Republicans.

“It’s definitely a shotgun wedding,” Staten Island GOP Chair and State Assemblyman Michael Tannousis told the NY Post. He predicted many moderate Democrats will cross party lines to support Sliwa, citing their concerns with Mamdani’s left-leaning agenda.

“There is no appetite for socialism on Staten Island,” said Tannousis. “Curtis will win Staten Island – maybe with an even bigger margin than last time.”

Sliwa, who secured 65% of the Staten Island vote in his 2021 run against Adams, isn’t taking anything for granted. “If I lose Staten Island, shame on me,” Sliwa told the Post. He emphasized his long-standing presence in the borough and blasted Adams for pushing migrant shelters there – a move he believes will hurt both Adams and Cuomo.

Meanwhile, Cuomo’s campaign took a swipe at Mamdani, likening him to former Mayor Bill de Blasio. Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi told the Post that Mamdani’s “anti-cop, anti-capitalist rhetoric” will flop with Staten Islanders.