Get Ready for a Leftist Lovefest Between NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani and City Council
Unlike outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, a centrist Democrat who immediately clashed with the City Council upon arriving at City Hall in 2022, the radical socialist Zohran Mamdani is expected to find a much more receptive audience when he takes office in January.
Democrats will hold 46 of the Council’s 51 seats, including nine new members—all Democrats. The far-left Progressive Caucus is anticipated to gain four new members, bringing its total to a powerful 21, sources told The Post. That number is just five short of the majority needed to guarantee the passage of any Mamdani-backed bill. Other Democrats would likely provide the remaining votes to cross the finish line, several politicians and operatives said.
Some Mamdani initiatives, including his planned $1 billion Department of Community Safety—which would deploy civilians rather than police officers to handle cases involving the mentally ill—“might run into issues with some Democrats,” a Democratic council source noted. “But if he’s moving ahead with other programs he’s proposed, like universal child care, I’m sure he’ll have overwhelming support,” the source added.
### New Members Expected to Join Progressive Caucus
The newly elected Council members expected to join the Progressive Caucus include Harvey Epstein (D-Manhattan), Elsie Encarnacion (D-Manhattan/Bronx), Justin Sanchez (D-Bronx), and Ty Hankerson (D-Queens). Kayla Santosuosso, a Democrat representing a “purple district” in southern Brooklyn, is also considering joining, sources said.
### Speaker Race Heats Up
Meanwhile, Mamdani ally and fellow progressive Crystal Hudson (D-Brooklyn) is neck and neck in the race to become the next City Council Speaker with Julie Menin, a moderate Manhattan Democrat representing the Upper East Side.
Menin enjoys heavy backing from unions and party leaders in Queens, The Bronx, and much of her home borough. Heading into the annual SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico this weekend, she was the clear frontrunner with an unofficial 26 votes lined up to win the race. Hudson had support from 15 members, with 10 others undecided, according to multiple sources.
Hudson, who appears to have strong support from the Brooklyn delegation, also benefits from powerful endorsements — including those of Mayor-Elect Mamdani and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn). “Crystal comes with Hakeem’s support, and Mamdani wants her to be the next speaker,” said a top Democratic operative.
### Mamdani’s Role in the Speaker Race
So far, Mamdani has yet to get involved in the speaker race, and sources say it’s unclear if he will. This cautious approach contrasts with former Mayor Adams’s failed attempt several months after his 2021 election to drum up support for Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Queens) in the speaker race. Adams’s meddling inadvertently helped underdog Adrienne Adams (no relation) secure the post, after which she often clashed with the administration on numerous policy issues over the next four years.
### Opposition Concerns and Outlook
Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (R-Queens), who is backing Menin, said the legislative body is “heading into uncharted waters.” She added, “I’m hoping we land with a moderate speaker, but if we end up with a radical who’s in lockstep with Mamdani, this Council could turn into little more than a rubber stamp organization for the far-left agenda.”
Menin has a track record of working well with progressive lawmakers; she ran multiple city agencies under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. Unlike Hudson, who campaigned for Mamdani, Menin did not endorse any candidate in this year’s mayoral race.
“In the midst of an affordability crisis and Donald Trump coming for New York, the mayor and speaker must work together to create a more affordable city—one where child care is free, rent is affordable, and neighborhoods are safe,” Menin said. “I look forward to working with the mayor-elect, along with the Council as an independent body, to enact these important policies.”
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### Related Headlines on Zohran Mamdani
– Mamdani Wins Mayoral Election and Wastes No Time Declaring War on Trump in Victory Speech
– How Mamdani’s Controversial Policies Could Quickly Reshape NYC as He Becomes Mayor
– Parents Begin Planning to Take Their Kids Out of NYC Schools Minutes After Mamdani’s Mayoral Win
– Mamdani Slammed for Using ‘You’re a Zionist!’ Slur in Resurfaced Video as Critics Warn Mayoral Race at ‘Code Red Situation’
– Zohran Mamdani Sticks to Socialist Guns with ‘Tax the Rich’ Plan During Highly Anticipated Sitdown with NYC Big Business Leaders
https://nypost.com/2025/11/08/us-news/dems-tighten-grip-on-nyc-following-mamdanis-mayoral-victory-and-majority-gains-in-city-council/