Former Transportation Secretary and 2028 presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg praised New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani during an interview this week, calling the self-described communist “capable of being a great mayor” while sharply criticizing former Governor Andrew Cuomo, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

“I don’t live in New York, but I think he has the capacity to be a great mayor,” Buttigieg said during an appearance on CNN.

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“He, I think, right now, has been taking a lot of steps that are not just about winning, but about trying to bring people together, which is something that people didn’t see in him or expect from him earlier on in the campaign.”

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Buttigieg added that he believes Mamdani’s campaign reflects a “really important and exciting race to watch,” though he stopped short of offering a formal endorsement. “I don’t think he needs me in order to win,” he said.

The 2028 contender then shifted his focus to Mamdani’s main opponent, Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after failing to secure the Democratic nomination.

“Andrew Cuomo has disqualified himself in so many ways, including morally,” Buttigieg said. “That’s just one of many reasons why I think so many New Yorkers are going to vote for Mamdani.”

Zohran Mamdani speaks to the press at the 2025 NYC Pride March, Jun 29, 2025, NYC, NY, USA. Yannick Peterhans/NorthJersey.com

Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens and self-professed socialist with ties to far-left activism, has drawn widespread support from high-profile Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Governor Kathy Hochul both recently endorsed his campaign.

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“Zohran Mamdani has relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy,” Jeffries said in a statement last week.

“In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”

Hochul echoed the sentiment, describing Mamdani as “focused on making New York City affordable, a goal I enthusiastically support.” The governor said she had held “frank conversations” with the candidate in recent months.

“We’ve had our disagreements,” Hochul said. “But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family.”

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Mamdani’s campaign has maintained a strong lead ahead of the November election. According to the latest RealClearPolitics polling data, Mamdani holds a 17.2-point advantage over Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race.

Buttigieg’s remarks mark one of his most visible public statements since signaling interest in a 2028 presidential bid. His comments place him in line with the Democratic establishment’s growing embrace of progressive candidates like Mamdani, who have gained traction in urban races across the country.