Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two of the Democratic Party’s most prominent progressives, bashed Representative Haley Stevens on Sunday for endorsing a Republican over Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a fellow Democrat, in the high-stakes Michigan Senate race.
As the two New York Democrats ate wings in Queens with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is running for re-election, they said this moment was about unity in opposition to politicians who support President Trump.
Ms. Ocasio Cortez, who endorsed Dr. El-Sayed and transferred $1 million to his campaign last month, said that “women’s rights to our own bodies are on the line, the constitution is on the line.”
Ms. Stevens previously endorsed Dr. El-Sayed after he won a tight Democratic primary over the summer, but reversed course on Sunday and backed the Republican nominee, Mike Rogers. Many Democrats were furious: Several of Ms. Stevens’ staff members quit and another New York Democrat, Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, called her decision a “despicable betrayal.”
During a stop at sports bar in the Astoria neighborhood, Ms. Ocasio Cortez said there are people who ask how they can make a moment about themselves, and there are people who ask how they can make it about the people.
“Abdul El-Sayed is very clearly the leader that we need in this moment, and I don’t think that it’s worth the distraction,” she said.
Mr. Mamdani said that “what is so galling about this moment is we have to be clear about what the choice is.”
“The choice is whether or not you want to fight for working people like what Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has been on, or whether you want to provide additional oxygen and amplification to a candidacy of someone who wants to cut Medicare even further than it’s already been cut,” he said. “That’s what’s on the ballot.”
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