Former President Barack Obama reached out to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, according to multiple news reports, praising Mamdani’s campaign and offering to serve as a “sounding board” if Mamdani wins, but stopping short of giving a formal endorsement.

The 30-minute phone call reportedly covered campaign strategy, staffing for a potential administration, and the candidate’s platform on affordability. Obama told Mamdani “your campaign has been impressive to watch,” and indicated he was “invested in your success beyond Election Day,” per sources familiar with the conversation.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assembly member and self-described democratic socialist, won the Democratic primary in June and is now competing for the mayoral seat in New York City. He has drawn endorsements from progressive leaders, but many senior Democratic Party figures, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and several New York congressional members, have withheld backing.

Campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec said in a statement that Mamdani “appreciated President Obama’s words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city.” She declined to clarify whether the campaign interprets the call as tacit support.

An adviser to the campaign, Patrick Gaspard, described the call as “unsolicited, unprompted” and noted that while this is not a formal endorsement, it signals a degree of normalization for Mamdani’s candidacy within influential circles.

Obama’s refusal to endorse is consistent with his stated policy of avoiding involvement in municipal races since leaving office. However, some political analysts argue that his call still represents a meaningful gesture of support in a high-profile mayoral race.

As the election approaches, the lack of a formal endorsement from prominent national Democratic figures continues to highlight the divisions within the party over Mamdani’s progressive platform and its potential impact on broader electoral strategy.