Democrats in New York\u2019s battleground suburbs are distancing themselves from New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani and his lefty socialist policies.<\/p>\n
Long Island members of Congress appeared particularly concerned<\/a> about Republicans attempting to link them to Mamdani \u2014 the Democratic candidate for mayor \u2014 in the 2026 midterm elections.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not socialists,\u201d Rep. Laura Gillen, who represents Nassau County\u2019s 4th District, said in an interview Wednesday night <\/a>on News Nation.<\/p>\n Long Island Democrats are separating themselves from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Kyle Mazza\/NurPhoto\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n \u201c[Mamdani] ran a campaign based on a bunch of promises \u2014 free everything \u2014 without any real economic plan to pay for it., other than raising taxes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Rep. Tom Suozzi, who endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and previously backed Mayor Eric Adams, said in a terse statement that he also was not on board with <\/a>Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman.<\/p>\n \u201cI had serious concerns about Assemblyman Mamdani before [the primary], and that is one of the reasons I endorsed his opponent. Those concerns remain,\u201d Suozzi said in a statement.<\/p>\n Gillen opposed Mamdani\u2019s plan to raise taxes on the top 1% city earners and on businesses to generate $9 billion for his proposals.<\/p>\n The congresswoman slammed the plan as impractical because it requires the approval of the governor and the state legislature \u2014 and argued hiking taxes would do more harm than good.<\/p>\n \u201cNew York City is the economic engine that drives our state and we need to make sure New York City thrives,\u201d Gillen said.<\/p>\n Follow The Post\u2019s coverage of the NYC mayoral race<\/p>\n \u201cZohran Mamdani\u2019s socialist, defund the police platform is wrong for New York City,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Both Gillen and Suozzi won tight races in their House elections last year.<\/p>\n Their statements came as the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee was doing cartwheels about having a potential Democratic Socialists of America-affiliated mayor \u2014 hoping to use it to use against Dems in battleground districts where socialism is unpopular, or to exploit divisions within the Democratic Party on Mamdani.<\/p>\n Rep. Laura Gillen told News Nation, \u201cWe are not socialists,\u201d in a Wednesday night interview with the network. AP<\/p>\n \u201cTom Suozzi and Laura Gillen\u2019s insubordination is further proof that Democrats have no plan, no message, and no leader,\u201d said NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O\u2019Toole.<\/p>\n \u201cWill [House Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries let them walk all over him, or will Suozzi and Gillen face consequences for defying their boss?\u201d<\/p>\n Jeffries congratulated Mamdani on his victory, as did Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Both New York Democrats said they would meet with them, but stopped short of an endorsement.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a pro-Israel Democrat, slammed Mamdani for not condemning the phrase<\/a> \u201cglobalize the intifada.\u201d<\/p>\n Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post\u2019s signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Gillibrand said she called Mamdani to congratulate him after he bested Cuomo in Tuesday\u2019s primary, but raised issues of concern, and did not endorse him as the Democratic nominee.<\/p>\n \u201cI vote in Albany,\u201d the Democratic senator said.<\/p>\n During a WNYC interview on Thursday, Gillibrand said she expressed concerns directly to Mamdani about his statements regarding Israel and pubic safety.<\/p>\n Rep. Tom Suozzi is also against Mamdani, having endorsed ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor of New York City. Ron Sachs \u2013 CNP for NY Post<\/p>\n She declined to discuss specifics until a caller later asked her about Mamdani\u2019s anti-Israel position, and then she went off on his refusal to condemn the \u201cglobalize the intifada\u201d rallying cry.<\/p>\n \u201cNew York constituents I talked to are alarmed. They are alarmed by past public statements. They are alarmed about past public positions, referring to global jihad,\u201d Gillibrand told the caller and host Brian Lehrer.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very serious issue because people who glorify the slaughter of Jews create fear in our communities,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe global intifada is a statement that means destroy Israel and kill all the Jews.\u201d<\/p>\n Gillibrand said Mamdani assured her he would protect Jews and all residents of New York City, if elected.<\/p>\n President Trump, for his part, wasted no time making Mamdani a bogeyman for the <\/a>Republican Party, calling him a \u201c100% communist lunatic.\u201d<\/p>\n