But each successive endorsement has created new friction that has led some Democrats to question whether the mayor keeps his political commitments.<\/p>\n

When he backed Assemblymember Claire Valdez for retiring Rep. Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez\u2019s seat, Democratic power brokers weren’t as understanding, with even progressives openly grousing about how Mamdani spurned Vel\u00e1zquez\u2019s succession plan by opting for a fellow democratic socialist over her preferred pick.<\/p>\n

Then, last week, the mayor endorsed another democratic socialist, Darializa Avila Chevalier, in her primary challenge against Rep. Adriano Espaillat \u2014 despite his previous commitment to back the incumbent.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to say about someone that you don\u2019t trust that person,\u201d Vel\u00e1zquez, an early endorser of Mamdani\u2019s 2025 mayoral run, told Blue Light News after his Avila Chevalier nod. \u201cBut your actions are raising serious concerns about taking you at your word \u2014 and that is very, very, very problematic in this business.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mayor\u2019s involvement in some of the city\u2019s most competitive congressional primaries should come as little surprise. It\u2019s no secret that Mamdani, whose mayoral campaign was boosted by the city\u2019s chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, entered office unafraid to defy his party\u2019s old guard in bold ways. But he\u2019s also exhibited a tendency to hedge his bets by cooperating with the political establishment, most notably in his dealings with President Donald Trump and Gov. Kathy Hochul.<\/p>\n

His decision to support Avila Chevalier is his biggest political gamble yet. While Lander and Valdez face tough races, their paths to victory are generally viewed as more achievable than toppling Espaillat, a five-term incumbent with deep ties to the district. And Avila Chevalier\u2019s social media history \u2014 including her description of former President Joe Biden as \u201ca rapist<\/u><\/a>\u201d and calling for the abolition of all forms of policing<\/u><\/a> \u2014 hasn\u2019t exactly helped her make inroads outside her far-left base of support.<\/p>\n

The endorsement against Espaillat also stands to carry consequences for the mayor well beyond the primary election.<\/p>\n

Last summer, Mamdani privately promised Espaillat he would support his reelection run, according to Vel\u00e1zquez and a person with direct knowledge of the conversation who was granted anonymity to discuss it. Mamdani made that behind-the-scenes commitment in conjunction with Espaillat endorsing him in the general election for mayor shortly after he defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in last June\u2019s Democratic primary (Espaillat had supported Cuomo in the primary).<\/p>\n

Vel\u00e1zquez, a matriarch of New York\u2019s progressive movement, said in her interview with Blue Light News that Espaillat confided in her that he and Mamdani even shook hands on the reciprocal endorsement pledge last summer.<\/p>\n

Acknowledging that she\u2019s still \u201cinfuriated\u201d with Mamdani for the way he endorsed Valdez over her preferred pick for her seat, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Vel\u00e1zquez said she will never again take the mayor\u2019s word on anything \u2014 whether it be about politics or policy \u2014 at face value. And she pointed directly to his broken promise to Espaillat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will say I want it in writing,\u201d Vel\u00e1zquez said.<\/p>\n

Applied broadly across the city\u2019s political spectrum, that sort of approach would spell trouble for the mayor given that he negotiates budgets with the City Council while banking on members of the state Legislature and New York\u2019s congressional delegation to push his priorities in Albany and on Capitol Hill, respectively.<\/p>\n

Aside from serving in Congress, Espaillat has a number of allies he helped get elected to the Council. And that lawmaking body is currently in the midst of negotiating the Mamdani administration’s first city budget. One Council member said that process has grown more tense due to his Avila Chevalier endorsement.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we know his word isn\u2019t worth anything,\u201d said the member, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Mamdani declined to comment. In a statement to Blue Light News, Avila Chevalier said, \u201cThe establishment can decide their feelings on this. The voters of this district have already proven they trust the mayor and support his vision by electing him last June with a 19 point margin.\u201d <\/p>\n

$\"Darializa$ <\/p>\n