Muslim American activist Linda Sarsour has longstanding ties to mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, helping to foster and support his political career over the years.
Mamdani said on X/Twitter in 2020 that he first met Sarsour while both worked on community leader Khader El-Yateem’s failed 2017 New York City Council Democratic primary bid. El-Yeteem posted a photograph on Facebook of his team, which included Sarsour and Mamdani.
A year later, Mamdani was elected to the Muslim Democratic Club of New York (MDCNY), which, according to the group’s website, was co-founded by Sarsour. According to a 2018 Facebook post congratulating Mamdani and others for election to the board, the organization explained that it was “dedicated to empowering the Muslim community through political activism.”
“Help build Muslim power across the city with us!” Read another Facebook post later that year.
MDCNY supported Mamdani in his 2020 state assembly race. In January 2020, MDCNY held fundraisers for him, canvassed, and volunteered on behalf of Mamdani with multiple events.
Mpower Change, which was also co-founded by Sarsour, hosted Mamdani at its August 2020 My Muslim Vote summit.
Sarsour publicly endorsed Mamdani during the assembly race, calling him her “favorite guy” from all the candidates she supported in the election season. After his victory, she called his election “very dear” to her “heart” in a Facebook post.
Mamdani professed his love back in a comment to Sarsour, adding, “You did so much to make this a reality.”
Sarsour would continue to stump for Mamdani as he ran to be the Democratic nominee for mayor, urging voters to rank him first because he was the “best answer to anti-Muslim hate.” She shared her own ballot choices, declaring that she was voting for him.
When Mamdani secured the nomination, Sarsour extolled the campaign as showing “another way” beyond division.
“As we move through this general election, just keep reminding yourself that unity isn’t uniformity. And that the same people who have been [causing] the crisis we are in are trying to remain in power, and we must reject that together,” Sarsour said on Facebook. “Let’s do it, New York. We deserve so much better than what we have. Have faith and let’s continue to practice the politics of solidarity.”
Since he first announced his mayoral candidacy, Sarsour has been an ardent supporter of Mamdani, putting the weight of her social media following behind his run. She also donated the maximum amount for a NYC mayoral candidacy, $2,100.
MDCNY has also continued to support Mamdani, mobilizing volunteers to canvas across Muslim communities in the city.
Sarsour's scandals
Sarsour gained national prominence during the activity of the Women’s March organization, but stepped down amid antisemitism scandals within the group.
The ADL and AJC have accused Sarsour, a proponent of BDS, of dealing in antisemitic tropes. According to the Associated Press, during his presidential campaign, Joe Biden disavowed her after a meeting with Muslim supporters.