House GOP campaign arm launches ad campaign tying NY, NJ Democrats to Mamdani

The National Republican Congressional Campaign is tying lawmakers in New York and New Jersey facing competitive reelection bids to Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani in a new paid digital advertising campaign unveiled Friday. 

The campaign targets New York Reps. Laura Gillen (D), Tom Suozzi (D) and Josh Riley (D), along with New Jersey Rep. Nellie Pou (D). The 30-second spots feature a picture of Mamdani and the lawmakers with the caption: “Together we can raise taxes, defund the police, and build a socialist New York.” 

The NRCC did not specify the amount of money behind the effort, but described the buy as “modest.” 

“If Democrats had their way, Mamdani's pro-criminal, open-borders, anti-law enforcement, and antisemitic agenda would be the law of the land,” said the committee’s spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole. 

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) hit back in their own statement on Friday. 

“Laura Gillen, Tom Suozzi, and Josh Riley are laser focused on delivering real solutions for their constituents, and voters in their districts aren’t buying these baseless and desperate attacks,” said DCCC spokesperson Riya Vashi. “It’s clear Republicans would rather talk about who the Mayor of New York City may be than answer for their own toxic agenda because they know that slashing health care and raising costs on working families to give tax breaks to billionaires isn’t exactly a winning message.”

The effort comes as Mamdani is set to meet with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Friday in Brooklyn. Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have not yet endorsed Mamdani. 

The Democratic nominee was in Washington on Wednesday for a closed-door breakfast hosted by progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). A number of House Democrats in attendance praised Mamdani following the event including Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). 

This is not the first time House Republicans have sought to tie their Democratic counterparts to New York City politics. Last year, Republicans worked to tie Democrats to corruption allegations against Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for reelection as an Independent. Democrats note they flipped three New York seats and reelected Ryan in the face of those attacks last year.