Obama Dials In: Former President Personally Calls NYC Mayoral Frontrunner Zohran Mamdani Just Days Before Election — “Your Campaign Has Been Impressive to Watch”
With just three days left before New York City heads to the polls, former President Barack Obama has stepped quietly — yet powerfully — into the city’s most heated political contest. The 64-year-old Democrat reached out personally to Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist frontrunner, offering encouragement and his ear as a “sounding board.” The private 30-minute phone call, confirmed by both Mamdani’s campaign and sources close to Obama, reportedly centered on the “importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city.” Mamdani’s spokesperson, Dora Pekec, told Fox News Digital that the candidate was “deeply honored” by the exchange, describing it as a “conversation about hope, inclusivity, and redefining leadership for the next generation of New Yorkers.”
The timing of Obama’s outreach is striking. Mamdani continues to lead in polling against Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, as New York braces for what could be its most ideologically charged mayoral election in decades. Cuomo, the state’s former governor, is waging a political comeback after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, while Sliwa’s campaign offered “no comment” on Obama’s involvement. The call coincided with Obama’s busy campaign weekend — the former president also appeared at rallies in Virginia and New Jersey to boost fellow Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, both locked in tight gubernatorial races.
Though Obama has stopped short of a formal endorsement, citing his decision to stay out of municipal elections, the symbolism of his outreach carries undeniable weight. For Mamdani, whose campaign has faced skepticism from establishment Democrats like Sen. Chuck Schumer, Obama’s acknowledgment signals growing national recognition of his movement’s momentum. As one insider told The New York Times, this was their second private call since the primary — a quiet reminder that even in a city of loud politics, the most influential voices sometimes speak softly, but strategically.
