Kamala Harris backs Zohran Mamdani as top Democrats keep their distance

By Brian Mann,

Steve Inskeep

Published September 24, 2025 at 4:39 AM EDT

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani got a major endorsement this week from former Vice President Kamala Harris. But many Democratic leaders remain distant, fueling growing tension.

Related Content

NPR's middle school champion: A moving podcast about Japanese incarceration

Janet W. Lee

For the first time, NPR's Student Podcast Challenge has a returning champion: a California fifth grader who explored a dark chapter in U.S. history during World War II.
Love pumpkin spice lattes? Learn some of its spicy history

Jaclyn Diaz

For NPR's Word of the Week: Things are getting spicy. We explain how a word referring to cinnamon and pepper turned less literal by the 19th century.
Morning news brief

Steve Inskeep

Trump cancels government funding meeting with top Democrats, Trump -- in a reversal -- declares Ukraine "can win back all territory lost to Russia," Jimmy Kimmel returns to late night.
Democrat wins congressional seat in Arizona, narrowing GOP's slim House majority

Ben Giles

In a special election, voters in southern Arizona have chosen to send Democrat Adelita Grijalva to Congress, narrowing the GOP's slim majority in the House.
Ryan Routh found guilty on all charges in attempted assassination of Donald Trump

Greg Allen

Ryan Routh faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced in December. A federal jury convicted him Tuesday in last year's attempted assassination of Donald Trump as he golfed on his South Florida course.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.