(TNND) — Former President Barack Obama called New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, praising his campaign message and offering to be a “sounding board” in the future, The New York Times first reported.
In the private 30-minute phone call confirmed by a Mamdani spokesperson, Obama told the 34-year-old mayoral candidate that he was invested in Mamdani’s success as the two discussed staffing challenges and accomplishing campaign promises.
“Your campaign has been impressive to watch,” Obama told Mamdani, according to the New York Times which cited two sources familiar with the conversation.
“Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obama’s words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city,” Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec told Fox News Digital.
The phone call between the two occurred while Obama was also campaigning in Virginia and New Jersey for Democratic gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, respectively. Both candidates are in close races in their states.
While Obama has not formally endorsed Mamdani—consistent with his general practice of avoiding involvement in municipal elections since leaving office—he has weighed in on every major contest ahead of Tuesday’s election, notably excluding New York City until the reported phone call.
The former president, so far, has showed public support for voting “yes” on California’s Prop 50 redistricting measure and weighed in on Supreme Court retention races in Pennsylvania.
In the days and weeks leading up to the election, Mamdani has racked up endorsements from other establishment Democrats including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
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Mamdani faces former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the upcoming election.