Kamala Harris quietly reaches out to Zohran Mamdani as Democrats brace for 2028
WASHINGTON, DC: Former Vice President Kamala Harris has quietly intensified her outreach to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, signaling an effort to strengthen ties with one of the Democratic Party's fastest-rising progressive figures as speculation over a possible 2028 presidential campaign continues.
According to an Axios report, Harris personally called Mamdani last week following his allies' victories in New York congressional primaries and is planning a longer conversation as she broadens engagement with influential voices across the party.
Kamala Harris deepens ties with Zohran Mamdani
Harris called Mamdani on Thursday, June 25, to discuss the Democratic Party's future, according to a person familiar with the conversation.
The call came just two days after three congressional candidates backed by the New York City mayor won Democratic primaries, including two races in which incumbents were defeated.
The report said Harris and Mamdani have occasionally exchanged text messages in recent months, reflecting a relationship that has quietly expanded as Mamdani's political influence has grown.
His endorsements and growing national profile have elevated him into one of the Democratic Party's most closely watched progressive leaders ahead of the 2026 midterms and beyond.
Neither Harris' office nor Mamdani commented publicly on the reported outreach.
Progressives remain cautiously skeptical
Beyond Mamdani, Harris has reportedly spent the past year reconnecting with other progressive voices, including advocates associated with the Uncommitted Movement that emerged during the Gaza war.
Axios reported she recently met in Detroit with Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the movement who is now running for the Michigan state Senate, and also held discussions with longtime Democratic National Committee member James Zogby.
According to Alawieh, Harris initiated months of private conversations that culminated in their recent meeting.
During those discussions, he reiterated concerns about US support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza and urged greater attention to Palestinian civilians.
Despite the outreach, some progressive strategists remain unconvinced. Palestinian American strategist Rania Batrice told Axios Harris will need to demonstrate meaningful policy changes before many left-wing and Arab American voters reconsider their support.
2028 strategy begins to emerge
The outreach comes as Harris continues to explore political relationships across the Democratic coalition while remaining one of the leading names in early polling for a potential 2028 presidential primary.
Axios also reported Harris has privately consulted former aides and Democratic officials on issues including China, artificial intelligence, Venezuela and broader foreign policy, suggesting she is preparing for future national debates.
Harris has previously acknowledged disagreements with aspects of the Biden administration's handling of the Gaza conflict, writing in her 2025 memoir '107 Days' that she urged then-President Joe Biden to show greater empathy toward Palestinian civilians.
While Harris has not announced plans to seek the presidency again, her recent conversations with Mamdani and other progressive leaders suggest she is working to rebuild relationships with constituencies that became increasingly critical of Democratic leadership during the 2024 election cycle.
