Mamdani meets with union bigwig – as he searches for lefty 2028 candidates

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani is meeting United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain as he consults labour leaders about possible progressive candidates for the 2028 US presidential election. The discussions come while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is considering a run, and Mamdani is said to want progressives ready to organise if a moderate candidate gains ground.

The meeting is scheduled for 5pm at Gracie Mansion. The UAW represents more than 100,000 workers across sectors including higher education and aerospace, and backed Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral campaign. Fain, who led major auto-sector strikes in 2023, said last month he had no plans to run for president; a “Ready for AOC” political action committee has also been launched to encourage her candidacy.