Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is making a concerted push to strengthen support among Black voters in New York City after underperforming in their neighbourhoods during the June primary.

Although the 33-year-old Queens assembly member secured his party’s nomination, he faces the reality that both his rivals — incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo — hold long-standing ties to Black communities through decades of political engagement, particularly with churches and local leaders.

Black residents account for roughly 22% of New York City’s 8.8 million population, making them one of the most influential voting blocs in the November election. For Mamdani, building credibility with older generations is critical.

“What I’ve heard from Black voters across the five boroughs is that the affordability crisis is one that is pushing them out of this city,” Mamdani told The Associated Press. “I’ve spoken to the older generation of Black voters about how affordability is something that has to be applied across the board. It’s not just a struggle for tenants, it’s also a struggle of homeowners.”

Affordability is the centrepiece of Mamdani’s campaign, aimed at bridging generational divides. Housing costs remain a pressing concern: AP VoteCast data shows six in ten Black voters in the 2024 election described themselves as “very concerned” about personal housing expenses.

That message resonates with younger Black New Yorkers. Jerrell Gray, 26, works as an assistant director for a public health non-profit but still lives with his mother in Brooklyn because of unaffordable rents. “A lot of my friends who are so talented, the people that I grew up with, end up leaving New York City because they can’t afford it, or they feel like the city doesn’t have anything for them,” he said, voicing strong support for Mamdani.

Despite such enthusiasm among younger progressives, older voters remain less convinced. Many have leaned toward Cuomo, citing his visibility and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brooklyn resident Nerissa Robinson, 58, acknowledged the scandal that forced Cuomo from the governor’s office in 2021 but remains inclined to back him. “Cuomo, I feel like, was somebody that was in office before and he got us during the pandemic, and that made me comfortable and safe,” she said.

Analysis of June’s primary results underscores the gap. Mamdani carried just eight of the city’s 33 majority-Black neighbourhoods, while Cuomo won 25. Four years earlier, Adams swept all 33.

Mamdani acknowledges the influence of long-standing loyalty. Recalling a conversation with a pastor who had endorsed Cuomo, he said: “I endorsed Mario’s son. It was because Mario was good to me,” referring to Cuomo’s late father, the former governor.

As the general election approaches, Mamdani’s task is clear: persuade older Black voters that his promises on affordability outweigh the decades of connections his opponents have built.