Democratic Socialist of America members from across the country are calling for campaigns to stop working with former Graham Platner adviser and Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaign manager, Morris Katz.
The letter, obtained by NY1, reads, “We, the undersigned, call on DSA candidates and elected officials to no longer contract or work with Morris Katz or Fight Agency, his political consulting firm.”
What You Need To Know
Democratic Socialist of America members from across the country are calling for campaigns to stop working with former Graham Platner adviser and Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaign manager, Morris Katz
The members highlight Platner’s troubling history, including the Nazi tattoo that he later covered up and the allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault. Allegations that Platner has denied
One DSA leader noted that Katz is “holding the left back” by having elevated Platner, who is rooted in “misogyny,” citing the allegations
“Morris Katz is one of the chief parties responsible for the catastrophic campaign of scandal-ridden Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner,” the letter adds.
The members go on to highlight Platner’s troubling history, including the Nazi tattoo that he later covered up and the allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault. Allegations that Platner has denied. The letter blames Katz for recruiting and running the failed Maine candidate.
Also in the crosshairs is Katz’s firm Fight Agency and his colleague Rebcca Katz (no relation). The members claim that Platner is part of a larger pattern by the Katz’ to run flawed candidates who have “appropriated the American working class’ [sic] burgeoning desire for authentic champions.”
“Men like Platner must not represent the American Left, and those like Katz who push such candidates should have no role in our movement. Katz is linked in the mind of the media and political class to NYC-DSA. Our movement must be both ethical and strategic. Katz has not shown an ability to be either,” the letter reads.
A handful of DSA members from New York signed the letter, including Wesley Higgins, the electoral co-chair for the city chapter.
Another signatory is Maine DSA leader Marianne Westfall, who told NY1 in a phone call that the problem with Katz is “pushing a very antiquated idea of who the working class is and who should represent the working class.”
She noted that Katz is “holding the left back” by having elevated Platner, who is rooted in “misogyny,” citing the allegations.
Westfall said Mamdani should cut off his professional relationship with Katz.
One source who spoke to NY1 said problems with Katz go back some time and that members “bristle at his tendency to make himself the story in these campaigns that we see as collective.”
NY1 has reached out to Mayor Mamdani and Katz for comment and has not heard back.