UFT Endorses Zohran Mamdani

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) has endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee in NYC Zohran Mamdani.

Nominee and candidate Zohran Kwame Mamdani.

The UFT consists of over 200,000 members across the city, and they overwhelmingly (63%) supported a resolution to make a formal endorsement of the Democratic Socialist for the NYC mayoral general election in November.

"As a union, we have to protect public education, public employees, and public service from attacks from Washington, D.C. We have to make New York City safer and more affordable for working- and middle-class families. We have to make the jobs of educators and nurses more attractive with better pay and benefits and retain those already doing the work. We need a mayor who understands the task before us and who will help us get it done. The UFT Delegate Assembly has determined that Zohran Mamdani can be that partner as the next mayor of New York City," UFT president Michael Mulgrew stated affirming the endorsement.

The UFT made very critical endorsements before which carried the recipients of their support the victory in New York City by large margins. Previously, they endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020 along with Hillary Clinton in 2016, Bill De Blasio for mayor in 2013, and Kathy Hochul for governor in 2022 and Andrew Cuomo in 2018. They also supported NYC representatives like Ritchie Torres.

Keep in mind that the UFT also made some unsuccessful endorsements, especially in municipal elections, like when they endorsed failed candidate Scott Stringer for mayor in 2021, and in 2001 for Alan Hevesi.

This endorsement is huge for Mamdani. It encourages more members of the UFT, and teachers from across the city, to turn out for him who may have previously been dismayed by his left-wing policies. Also, a 200,000-member voting block is significant enough to make or break election victories for mayor, which usually involve roughly 1 million voters of the roughly 8 million people who reside in the city.

Mamdani is now encouraging greater turnout to boost his election odds over swaying Cuomo or Adams voters, a very strong move.