Mamdani teams up with progressive allies for basketball campaign ad
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani is broadening his influence beyond City Hall by rolling out a new, basketball-themed campaign ad promoting a slate of progressive allies competing in closely watched Democratic congressional primaries across New York’s borough-based districts.
The spot frames Mamdani as a political “kingmaker” and spotlights candidates including Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Claire Valdez, who each deliver signature left-leaning promises (such as blocking “billionaires” from elections, abolishing ICE, and standing up to landlords and corporations). The ad, which ends with a “Get out and vote” call, is timed to reach voters during the NBA Finals.
The article also notes Mamdani’s recent endorsements: he backed lander in a primary against Rep. Daniel Goldman, a more established Democrat, with polling suggesting Lander has opened a lead despite Goldman spending heavily. mamdani’s alliance with Lander traces back to the 2025 mayoral race, where the two cross-endorsed each other on a ranked-choice ballot.
Chevalier’s challenge to Rep. Adriano Espaillat is described as a high-stakes political gamble, with controversies and weaker polling mentioned. Simultaneously occurring, valdez is contesting an open seat in New York’s 7th District, where she has emerged as a serious option to the previous frontrunner Antonio Reynoso, supported by Velazquez. Mamdani has backed Valdez with funding, strategy, and in-person campaigning.
the campaign ad is presented as part of Mamdani’s effort to expand and solidify a socialist-leaning coalition aimed at growing his influence in the House.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expanding his political operation beyond City Hall, releasing a new campaign featuring a slate of progressive allies running in competitive New York congressional primaries as he seeks to grow his socialist coalition in the House of Representatives.
The advertisement highlights Mamdani’s growing role as a political kingmaker in New York, where 13 congressional districts are located wholly or partially within the city’s five boroughs.
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The ad opens with Mamdani catching a basketball and declaring, “We know anything’s possible with a great team.”
He then passes the ball to congressional candidate Brad Lander, who says, “I’ll block billionaires from buying our elections.”
The ball moves to congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who promises, “I’ll defend New York by abolishing ICE.”
State Assemblymember Claire Valdez follows, saying, “I’ll stand up against bad landlords and greedy corporations.”
The spot concludes with Mamdani and the candidates standing together and urging voters: “Get out and vote. This is the team. This is our year.”
Earlier this week, Mamdani endorsed Lander, the former New York City comptroller who is challenging Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY) in a closely watched Democratic primary. Goldman, a former federal prosecutor, has compiled a reliably Democratic voting record in Congress, but recent polling suggests Lander has opened a significant lead despite Goldman spending more than $1 million of his own money on the race.
Lander also ran in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary for New York City, where he forged an alliance with Mamdani. The two candidates cross-endorsed each other, encouraging voters to support both of them on the ranked-choice ballot, with Lander ultimately placing third behind Mamdani and former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Announcing the endorsement, Lander took aim at Goldman.
“My opponent couldn’t bring himself to endorse Zohran as the Democratic nominee in the general election, even when the alternative was serial sexual harasser Andrew Cuomo,” Lander wrote on X.
Avila Chevalier is challenging Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), the five-term incumbent who currently chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. She gained attention for helping lead pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and has made foreign policy a central theme of her campaign.
Mamdani’s endorsement of Chevalier against Espaillat was largely seen as a political gamble. In since-deleted controversial social media posts, Avila Chevalier described former President Joe Biden as a rapist and called for the total abolition of policing. She is also polling 14 points behind Espaillat.
Valdez is running in New York’s 7th Congressional District, a deep-blue Brooklyn-and-Queens seat sometimes referred to as “Commie Corner.” The district is open for the first time in three decades following the retirement of Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY).
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Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso entered the race as the presumed front-runner, backed by Velazquez and armed with deep roots in the district and a lengthy progressive record. But Valdez, a first-term state lawmaker and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has emerged as a serious contender. Mamdani, who remains highly popular in the district, has endorsed her candidacy, helped her raise money, offered strategic guidance, and campaigned alongside her.
The basketball-themed ad is expected to air during the NBA Finals, which will feature the New York Knicks representing the Eastern Conference and the San Antonio Spurs representing the Western Conference.
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