Mamdani's New York mayoral primary win exposes Democratic divide

Just hours after Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani declared victory in New York's mayoral primary on Wednesday, a small group of business leaders convened with Mayor Eric Adams, who bypassed the Democratic primary and is instead running in the general election as an independent.

Attendees were focused on strategizing how to prevent Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblymember, from winning the mayoralty -- and assessing whether Adams was the strongest contender to oppose him in November.

Among those present was former NYC mayoral candidate and former hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson, who recently shared a debate stage with Mamdani. Tilson described Mamdani as “very charming and charismatic,” but added he sharply disagrees with Mamdani’s policies and “[About] 5% of New York City voters picked him… It's a totally rigged closed primary.”

Tilson told ABC News when it became clear the race was between two people, he had hoped former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo would win. He said he would “...continue for the next 130 days what I began in earnest 45 days ago -- to make sure Zohran Mamdani, an unqualified radical socialist, does not become mayor of our city.”

Several other vexed moderate-minded Democrats, beyond the handful in the meeting with Adams, are making similar schemes, a Democratic source with knowledge of the conversations confirmed to ABC.

That source suggested that some are mulling over boosting centrist lawyer Jim Walden, who is running as an independent, as a potential spoiler. And billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman (who supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election) pledged to bankroll whichever viable challenger vows to take on Mamdani in November.

Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, wrote that Mamdani’s win was "disastrous" and that she, Ackman, and others must “figure out a way to save New York” in response to his promise.

However, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he’s not aware of any progressives who are “quaking in their boots about a particular scenario” and that serious Mamdani supporters' worries come not from threats, but “because we should be worried of the unknown, and no one should take this general election lightly.”

“It's more than ironic that Ackman thinks he has anything left to say to anybody in the Democratic Party after his activities last few months,” de Blasio told ABC News. “As some of these people are flailing about, they are only reminding people that Zohran’s positions are going to be the majority positions in this town.”

The former mayor, whom Mamdani said was the best in his lifetime, said he doesn’t believe the accusations of radicalism or extremism will stick, pointing to Mamdani's strong margins from Tuesday night.

“I think the magnitude of the victory has woken up a lot of people who were buying into stereotypes -- unfair stereotypes -- of Zohran,” de Blasio said. “You can't be extreme if such a clear majority want you. To use a New York City phrase: he's instantly been koshered."

Mamdani isn’t shielding himself from the incoming, either.

Longtime New York powerbroker Kathryn Wylde told ABC News Mamdani called her Thursday evening, and expressed interest in meeting with the CEOs whom Wylde said were “extremely concerned” with his economic and fiscal policies.

Wylde agreed -- and plans to host a meeting between Mamdani and any of the interested 300 plus executives who are members of Partnership for the City, where she serves as CEO, during the third week in July.

“The business community will not determine who is mayor. But we want whomever is mayor to have relationships and understand the issues that will keep our city strong,” Wylde said.

His campaign told ABC News he’s committed to meeting “with anyone and everyone.”

“As Zohran has said throughout this campaign, he’ll meet with anyone and everyone to move our city forward. Zohran’s committed to delivering an administration of excellence that delivers an affordable and safe city for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected,” Mamdani campaign spokesperson Lekha Sunder said in a statement.

Mark Gorton, founder of LimeWire and chairman of Tower Research Capital hedge fund, said he donated $250,000 to Cuomo’s super PAC, Fix the City, after it became clear that his preferred candidate, Brad Lander, would not win the primary. However, Gorton acknowledged to ABC News he did so reluctantly.

“I was like, ‘I’m tired of being on the outside -- I want to be on the inside,” he said.

Still, he knew his top concerns -- support for cyclists, reducing car traffic and expanding bus service -- were not priorities for Cuomo.

“Cuomo was a disaster,” the activist, who started a non-profit focused on New York’s streets nearly three decades ago, said. “He didn’t even show up at the candidate forum and drives around in a Dodge Charger.”

Gorton said he felt relieved when Cuomo lost, noting that both Mamdani and Lander are strong on the issues he cares about. If November’s election were held today, he said, he would vote for Mamdani.

When asked whether he would contribute to Mamdani’s campaign, Gorton hesitated.

“He doesn’t need my money. Money doesn’t always make a difference," he said.

Some Democrats in New York’s Congressional delegation are distancing themselves from Mamdani. Speaking on WNYC’s "The Brian Lehrer Show" on Thursday Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand declined to say who she would endorse. When pressed, she said: “I vote in Albany,” and will leave the decision to New York City voters.

Rep. Tom Suozzi, who represents a Long Island swing-district that includes some parts of Queens, posted on X that he continues to have “serious concerns” about Mamdani.

Yet some of the highest ranking of the delegation seem open to Mamdani.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of New York, praised Mamdani after his apparent primary win. Showing particular support for his campaign's focus on affordability, both vowed to meet with him. Rep. Gregory Meeks, (D-NY), also told ABC News he was looking to speak with the presumptive nominee.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the most senior Jewish member of the House of Representatives, went even further. After backing one of Mamdani’s challengers during the primary, Nadler has since endorsed Mamdani’s general election bid.

And former president Bill Clinton, who backed Cuomo, wrote on X that he is “wishing [Mamdani] much success in November and beyond as you look to bring New Yorkers together.”

Veteran Democratic strategist Lis Smith, who once worked for Cuomo and is now a critic, told ABC News centrist Democrats are partially to blame for the former governor's loss and suggested they look in the mirror.

“It is baffling that they decided to cast their lot with a disgraced former governor who was run out of office and had no new ideas or inspirational message to offer New Yorkers. Spare us the freak out,” said Smith. “This just seems like the last gasp of the establishment and the affiliated billionaires trying to stop a grassroots moment that, frankly, they helped fuel.”