Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) refused to endorse New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani during an interview aired Sunday and criticized the “defund the police” movement, stating it is “wrong.”
As The New York Post reported, Booker was questioned by CNN’s Manu Raju about Mamdani’s lack of support from Democratic leaders. “Democratic leaders are not supporting [Mamdani]. Is that a problem? Do you support him?” Raju asked.
Rather than directly answer, Booker responded, “The lines that divide us in America are not nearly as strong as the ties that bind us,” adding that corporations and media seek to pit Americans against each other.
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“The left-right lens is not the right lens to look at this right now. Right now it is: Can we get back to the pragmatic work of governing?”
Raju pressed again, asking Booker if he would support Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist. Booker declined.
“I have learned a long time ago: Let New York politics be New York politics,” he said. “We’ve got enough challenges in Jersey. I got a governor’s race. I’m supporting Mikie Sherrill. I got legislative races. That’s where my energy is going to go going into November.”
“New York City, I love you. You’re my neighbor. You’re about 10 miles from where I live. You guys figure out your elections. I’m going to focus on mine,” Booker added.
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Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman, made national headlines in June after winning New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other contenders.
However, he has not received endorsements from prominent Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Senator Cory Booker refuses to endorse Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor: “NYC, I love you. You’re my neighbor. You guys figure out your elections. I’m going to be focused on mine” pic.twitter.com/gCLTyUC1cB
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Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Israel and faced scrutiny for refusing to denounce antisemitic slogans. His past support for defunding the police has also drawn attention.
In June 2020, Mamdani tweeted, “What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD,” labeling the department “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.” Days later, he called for “a socialist city council to defund the police.”
Raju asked Booker if such statements remained a problem for the Democratic Party. Booker replied by citing Newark’s reaction after the death of George Floyd. “Newark would have overwhelmingly voted for more police,” he said.
“We don’t want police violating our rights. We don’t want police endangering our lives, but we want safety and security… and the police are part of that. An essential part of that equation.”
“Anybody who’s saying ‘defund the police’ is wrong,” Booker said. “And within the Democratic Party or within the nation, I will always fight that.”
In the wake of a recent Manhattan mass shooting that left four people dead, including an NYPD officer, Mamdani walked back his earlier position.
“I am not running to defund the police,” he told reporters. “My statements in 2020 were made amidst a frustration that many New Yorkers held at the murder of George Floyd.”
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