August 11th 2025.
Zohran Mamdani, a mayoral candidate in New York, recently visited the Greater Allen A.M.E. Church in Southeast Queens to strengthen his relationship with Black voters. As the winner of the Democratic primary in June, Mamdani has been struggling to connect with voters in low-income, Black communities. So, he took to the pulpit of the historic African Methodist Episcopal church to deliver his message and hopefully gain their support.
Mamdani's main goal, as he expressed to the churchgoers, is to make the city more affordable and provide a good and dignified life for all New Yorkers. He urged the community to hold him accountable for this promise, showing his commitment to serving the people. Despite his previous struggles in gaining support from Black voters, the 33-year-old state assemblyman managed to beat out former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. However, preliminary results show that he still faced challenges in lower-income neighborhoods with high Black populations compared to Cuomo.
In precincts where the majority of residents are Black, Mamdani received less than 30% of the vote. Even in majority-Black precincts overall, his support only reached 42%. On the other hand, in gentrified areas where the Black population declined the most between 2010 and 2020, he secured more than two-thirds of the vote. These neighborhoods, such as central Harlem in Manhattan and Fort Greene and Crown Heights in Brooklyn, are rapidly changing and include a diverse mix of residents.
One issue that has caused tension between Mamdani and some Black voters is his proposal to freeze rents in rent-stabilized apartments. This policy, mentioned during his visit to Greater Allen A.M.E., was met with audible whispers and groans from parishioners, many of whom are homeowners. Concerns were also raised by Black business leaders that such a freeze could hinder Black homeowners and developers from building generational wealth. Landlords and developers fear that Mamdani's approach could limit their income from property ownership.
However, Mamdani has gained the support of a growing wave of Black Democratic leaders, including New York Attorney General Letitia James. They are determined to ensure their communities are well-served if Mamdani becomes the city's next mayor. Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, head of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, who had previously backed Cuomo, endorsed Mamdani after his primary win and even accompanied him on a tour of Brooklyn's Little Haiti.
Despite initial challenges, Mamdani remains optimistic and believes that once Black voters get to know him better, they will support him. He understands their skepticism and acknowledges their concerns about the proposed rent freeze. However, he reassures them that his goal is to serve all New Yorkers and that he values the hard work and efforts of homeowners and developers. With the support of influential Black leaders and his determination to make the city more affordable for all, Mamdani hopes to gain the trust and support of the Black community as he continues his campaign.
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