Do union endorsements still matter?
About this episode
The episode discusses the shifting influence of labor union endorsements in New York politics and their implications for upcoming elections.
Is labor union influence in New York shifting? Recent elections have raised new questions about the political value of a major labor union endorsement. Andrew Cuomo secured backing from many prominent unions in the 2025 mayoral primary but lost to Zohran Mamdani, while Antonio Reynoso fell to Claire Valdez in a congressional race despite broad labor support. NY1 statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis to examine what a union endorsement means for candidates in 2026. They discussed how an endorsement's value depends on more than a logo: unions must invest money, mobilize members, and build a real turnout operation for their support to matter. The conversation also explored the union-backed Working Families Party, its tensions with the Democratic Socialists of America, and its challenge of maintaining ballot status while deciding whether to align with Gov. Kathy Hochul in this November's election. They also considered Mamdani's high popularity as he approaches consequential contract negotiations with powerful public-sector unions.
People in this episode
Host: Errol Louis
Guest: Bernadette Hogan
Topics covered
- union endorsements
- political influence
- elections
- labor unions
- New York politics
- Working Families Party
- Democratic Socialists
Keywords
- union endorsements
- labor influence
- New York elections
- political value
- Working Families Party
- Kathy Hochul
- Andrew Cuomo
- Zohran Mamdani
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Working Families Party, Democratic Socialists of America
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- Steve Kornacki breaks down the future of New York politics
- Patrick Gaspard: Mamdani and Obama adviser weighs in on the problem with Democrats
- Who won the NY-12 debate?
- Mamdani's high-stakes Upper Manhattan bet
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