‘Focus on potholes’: NYC Mayor Mamdani smoothly sidetracks Harris 2028 endorsement
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked about his thoughts on a speculative Harris 2028 presidential run in a Meet the Press interview. His maneuvering of the situation earned him praise online.
“Would you like to see former Vice President Kamala Harris run for president again?” Kristen Welker from NBC News asked Mamdani in the interview. Ever since former Vice President Kamala Harris said she was “thinking about” running for the 2028 presidential race, many Democratic Party members have been asked for thoughts on the matter.
“I have to be honest, I haven’t thought about the candidacies for president this time. My focus is 2026,” Mamdani replied.
“You’re the only Democrat who hasn’t thought about that,” Welker reacted in disbelief.
“And I’m proud to say that I am not and will never be running for president,” Mamdani joked. But, in reality, the NYC mayor can’t run for the executive branch. This is because he is a naturalized citizen of the United States.
“When it comes to the national level, I want to make sure that we win these midterms and actually have a vision that we’re fighting for, not just one we’re fighting against,” Mamdani added.
But Welker insisted, “Given that former Vice President Kamala Harris was the nominee in 2024, do you think she would be the strongest person to represent Democrats in 2028?”
Mamdani acknowledged that Welker wanted an answer, but he still refused to give one in relation to the question. “But I have to be honest with you that I think New Yorkers are tired of politicians pontificating about other politicians. What they want to see are results, and that’s why my focus has been more on potholes than on politics.”
More important fish to fry than Mamdani
Social media was impressed by Mamdani’s firm response to Welker. One social media user wrote in praise of Mamdani, “He saw that trap coming from 100 miles away.” Others applauded what they thought was “generational talent.” Meanwhile, a user on X even found time to compliment Mamdani’s shirt and tie knot.
There is praise for Mamdani, largely because he’s sticking to his priorities. His pothole repair campaign also went viral online when the initiative launched. It’s still an ongoing program, but Mamdani has also moved on to another actionable goal, which is to dismantle unused scaffolding in New York City. But putting these programs aside, Welker did her best as a reporter. Questions should be answered by politicians to the best of their ability instead of dodging them.
But Mamdani is a local mayor who has stakes in New York and not much anywhere else. He couldn’t even run for the presidency one day. It would be excusable to grill him on a question if the public has heavy interest in the subject. Endorsing Harris is simply not a major priority for a local politician. And if he did, what weight would the endorsement carry?
Mamdani has made it clear that he’s staying in his lane—New York City.
Moreover, it’s only been one year of Trump. Surely, more Democratic Party members can rise and aspire to run in 2028. There are whispers of Gavin Newsom as a challenger for 2028, but it’s too early to say. Ultimately, the party will have to choose the most viable candidate to endorse. The party needs somebody who is right for the moment, and it doesn’t have to be Harris.
(featured image: NYC Mayor’s Office)
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