A Secret Phone Call Between Kamala Harris and Zohran Mamdani Signals a High-Stakes Gamble to Win Over the Party’s Activist Wing
No stone unturned.
Kamala Harris just made a high-stakes phone call to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, signaling a bold gamble to win over the Democratic Party’s activist wing ahead of 2028. The private conversation focused on the future of the party and set the stage for what insiders expect to be deeper discussions, according to Axios. This outreach is a calculated move to secure support from a faction that’s rapidly gaining influence, especially on issues like Palestine.
According to the New York Post, Harris’ call comes just days after Mamdani-backed democratic socialist candidates scored major victories in New York congressional primaries, unseating two incumbent lawmakers. Those wins proved Mamdani’s ability to mobilize voters and deliver results, even outside his Brooklyn stronghold.
Republican consultant Mike Madrid put it bluntly, saying this is about positioning for 2028, where no one knows exactly where the lane for Palestinian rights support will be, but everyone knows it’s going to exist. Harris is betting that engaging with this wing now is better than ignoring it and risking a primary challenge later.
This isn’t Harris’ first attempt to mend fences with the progressive left
Her 2024 presidential campaign struggled to win over Arab American and progressive voters after she declined to distance herself from President Joe Biden’s unwavering support for Israel during the Palestinian genocide. Since then, she’s been quietly rebuilding those relationships, holding private meetings with left-wing organizers, including figures tied to the pro-Palestinian Uncommitted Movement.
One of those figures, Michigan Democrat Abbas Alawieh, said Harris reached out to him after months of private conversations, urging her to oppose the use of U.S. tax dollars to harm civilians or destroy communities. Alawieh even shared stories from constituents whose relatives were killed in Israeli airstrikes backed by U.S. military assistance.
The outreach to Mamdani is particularly telling. The New York City mayor is one of the most high-profile Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) leaders in the country, and his recent primary wins have made him a power player in the party. Strategist Matt Klink didn’t mince words when he said Harris is kissing the ring with this move.
Mamdani’s influence is undeniable
His DSA-backed candidates didn’t just win in New York. Similar momentum is building across the country. In Los Angeles, City Councilmember Nithya Raman is challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. In Washington, D.C., DSA member Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic mayoral primary. And in Colorado, political newcomer Melat Kiros is poised to become the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress after defeating 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette.
Klink even suggested that a Harris-Mamdani ticket isn’t entirely out of the question, though there’s one major hurdle – Mamdani isn’t eligible to serve as vice president. Under the U.S. Constitution, the VP must be a natural-born citizen, a requirement Mamdani doesn’t meet since he was born in Uganda to Indian-origin parents and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.
That said, the speculation alone shows how seriously Harris is taking this wing of the party. Madrid noted that her recent moves reflect a rapidly changing Democratic electorate, one where divisions over Israel and Palestine are becoming as defining as the Tea Party’s rise was for Republicans a decade ago.
Harris isn’t the only 2028 contender recalibrating their stance on Israel
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another frontrunner, briefly described Israel as an “apartheid state” earlier this year before walking it back, reaffirming his support for Israel while criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Other potential candidates, like Pete Buttigieg and Governors Josh Shapiro, Andy Beshear, and J.B. Pritzker, are all watching Harris’ moves closely.
Klink says the candidate who figures out how to embrace the activist energy without getting photographed at the wrong rally will have a real advantage in what’s shaping up to be a crowded primary. For now, Harris is leading the pack. A national Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll from last month showed her with 27% support among Democratic voters for the 2028 nomination, nearly double that of Newsom at 14%.
But her support has dipped from earlier surveys, and she’s clearly not taking anything for granted. Her outreach to Mamdani and other progressive leaders is a clear signal that she’s prioritizing the activist left, even if it comes with risks. Klink warned that chasing the socialist wing to win a primary is a time-honored Democratic tradition that consistently creates general election problems.
Harris is gambling that she can consolidate the base early, capture their enthusiasm, and then pivot to the center later. It’s a strategy with a poor track record, but in a party where the activist left is flexing more muscle than ever, it might be her best shot.
Mamdani himself hasn’t been quick to embrace the Democratic establishment
He’s known for his outspoken criticism of Israel, often describing its policies toward Palestinians as apartheid and genocide, and he strongly supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. His recent primary wins have only amplified his voice, making him a kingmaker, or queenmaker, as some have joked, in the 2028 race.
When Harris reached out to congratulate him on the New York socialist sweep, it wasn’t just a polite gesture. It was a recognition that Mamdani’s influence is only growing, and ignoring it could be a costly mistake. The phone call between Harris and Mamdani was just the beginning. If the two continue their discussions, it could reshape the Democratic primary landscape.
For Harris, the goal is clear: win over the activists now, before they become a liability later. For Mamdani, it’s an opportunity to push the party further left on issues like Palestinian rights. And for the rest of the 2028 field, it’s a warning that the rules of the game are changing. The activist left isn’t just a fringe group anymore. They’re a force to be reckoned with, and Harris is betting that embracing them early is the key to her success.
(Featured images: Karamccurdy, Gage Skidmore)
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