By Charlie McCarthy | Friday, 31 October 2025 08:31 AM EDT
Progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for failing to back democratic socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of hypocrisy. During an interview on CNN, Omar stated Schumer’s reluctance “makes no sense,” highlighting that the Democrat leader has previously pushed others in his party to support nominees.
“We as Democrats have always believed that, in an election, we support our party’s nominee,” Omar told CNN’s Kasie Hunt. “Schumer has pressured other Democrats to do just that, and he should be following his own advice.”
Omar’s remarks come amid deepening divisions within the Democratic Party over Mamdani’s candidacy. The 34-year-old New York State assemblyman, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, advocates for rent freezes, expanded welfare programs, and significant public sector growth. Despite House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., endorsing Mamdani last week, Schumer has remained silent.
Omar suggested Schumer’s hesitation might stem from anti-Muslim bias, citing the “tsunami of anti-Muslim attacks” against Mamdani as “deeply concerning.” She urged Schumer to stand with “the million Muslims who live in New York City and the millions who live in New York and in America.”
Omar dismissed claims that Mamdani delayed denouncing the slogan “Globalize the intifada,” calling accusations of antisemitism “overused to the point of absurdity.” She argued Mamdani has broad support, including from Jewish voters, citing his appeal to Muslim and young demographics.
Mamdani has embraced his socialist label, rallying progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Gov. Kathy Hochul. He pledged to “freeze rents,” “hire thousands of new teachers,” and “take on billionaires,” framing his campaign as a “movement of the masses.” Sanders praised him as a candidate for “working families, not the billionaire class.”
However, Mamdani’s rise has alarmed moderates and conservatives. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now an independent, warned his agenda would harm New York’s economy, urging residents to “book airline tickets for Florida now.” The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a campaign accusing Democrats of aligning with “radical socialist Zohran Mamdani,” using imagery of the hammer and sickle to signal a shift toward socialism.
President Donald Trump labeled Mamdani a “100% communist lunatic,” threatening to arrest him if he obstructs federal law enforcement. With Election Day nearing, Schumer’s silence underscores his reluctance to endorse the radical agenda reshaping his party’s biggest city.
