SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul spent the week celebrating Zohran Mamdani’s historic mayoral victory. Then, on Saturday, she made clear how far she’s willing to go with his progressive agenda.
The governor praised the democratic socialist “who's lighting politics on fire” — but that didn’t stop her from opposing his plan to make New York City buses free, questioning how he plans to fund universal child care and saying she’ll keep an eye on how Mamdani leads New York’s Jewish community.
Her comments, delivered to reporters on the sidelines of a political conference in Puerto Rico, offered an early glimpse of the negotiations ahead between Albany and City Hall and the delicate balance Hochul will have to strike as she eyes reelection and a tough slate of congressional battlegrounds next year.
The moderate Democrat has always made clear she has political disagreements with Mamdani, even as she endorsed him over her old boss, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Now that Mamdani’s officially the mayor-elect, her remarks have taken on extra weight.
“I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways. But can we find a path to make it more affordable for people who need help? Of course we can,” Hochul said.
Mamdani has proposed that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which Hochul controls, would eliminate the fare for New York City buses. MTA leadership has already expressed skepticism of the plan, even after Mamdani won a short-lived pilot program for one free bus in each borough in 2023.
Hochul also dug into the difficulties of implementing free, universal child care. She has embraced the concept, which was a key plank of Mamdani’s campaign, but suggested it would take time to phase in, raising concerns about training enough child care workers and having enough facilities.
She also said the state was on a “collision course” given federal cuts from President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Our ambitions are big, and I believe in them, and I want to accomplish them. We also have to figure out — now I'm in the hole $3 billion already on Medicaid cuts,” she said. “So if Republicans would stop doing that, and I got back to my normal budgeting cycle, it looks a lot easier.”
And Hochul’s concerns with Mamdani aren’t just about the budget. Addressing the many Jewish New Yorkers who felt alienated by Mamdani’s staunchly anti-Israel politics, Hochul said they need some time to “see action” from the mayor-elect.
“That's one area where I know that there's some opportunities for him to demonstrate, as he has said, but also demonstrate that he is there to protect all New Yorkers, to protect anyone's right to worship or their beliefs but also their institutions,” she said.
Still, Hochul largely offered praise for the candidate she endorsed, applauding Mamdani for his plan to ask NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to stay in her role and saying she and the mayor-elect planned to meet again “very soon” to discuss a response the Trump administration’s threats to surge immigration enforcement or the National Guard into New York City upon Mamdani taking office.
Hochul has been meeting with civic leaders for weeks to plan for the potential of Trump taking over the city, POLITICO reported.
Mamdani and Hochul spoke to crowds at the same receptions three times at the conference, and the governor was quick to hype up the party’s new big star.
“It's a new day in New York. You know why? Because we're gonna have a new mayor, and I am so proud that this individual is gonna work with me shoulder-to-shoulder to deliver for New York City the way it's never seen in its lifetime,” Hochul said at a labor union reception Saturday morning.
Mamdani basked in the excitement onstage. And despite the often-contentious relationship historically shared by the Empire State governor and the mayor of New York City, he struck a tone of unity when asked by reporters about navigating the differences with Hochul.
“I continue to be incredibly excited by the mandate that New Yorkers delivered on Tuesday, and the ever-growing coalition that we have to deliver on affordability,” he said. “And I think it's that shared purpose that brings many of us together, no matter which part of the party that we belong to in delivering for New Yorkers.”
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