KINGSTON, N.Y. — U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan formally endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor on Wednesday, delivering a blistering critique of Andrew Cuomo in the process.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ryan, D-Gardiner, wrote: “Public service is all about one thing: who do you fight for? @ZohranKMamdani fights for the PEOPLE.
“Andrew Cuomo is a selfish POS who only fights for himself and other corrupt elites,” he stated, adding: “I know whose side I’m on.
“I’m with the people. I’m with Zohran,” Ryan wrote about the Democratic socialist.
FILE – New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference outside the Jacob K. Javits federal building Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, file)
A former Ulster County Executive, Ryan represents New York’s 18th Congressional District, which comprises most of Dutchess County, the eastern portion of Ulster County and all of Orange County.
As one of the earliest Democrats in Congress to call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 election, Ryan is known for not always toeing the party line.
His disdain for Cuomo dates back to at least 2021, when Ryan, while still county executive, called for Cuomo to resign amid the sexual harassment scandal that ultimately forced Cuomo out of office.
“New Yorkers must have full trust and confidence in our leaders, especially at such a critical point in our pandemic response. Governor Andrew Cuomo has fundamentally broken the public trust — violating and harassing his staff, misleading those he was elected to serve, and repeatedly putting politics ahead of the public good. Governor Cuomo should do the right thing and resign, enabling our state to begin to heal and move forward,” Ryan stated at the time.
According to the New York Times, Mamdani has taken a substantial lead in the mayoral race. According to a new survey by The New York Times and Siena University, 46% of likely voters currently said they would vote for Mamdani in a four-way race.
Mamdani will hold the Democratic line on the November ballot. Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams have said they would run on independent party lines in the race.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, is the Republican candidate in the race.
Locally, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, D-Esopus, who is a Democratic socialist, has also endorsed Mamdani. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, a Rhinebeck resident and former congressman who is challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul for her seat next year, also endorsed Mamdani.