Zohran Mamdani’s campaign persona called into question by vote to give himself raise: critics

Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani voted to drastically raise his state Assembly salary on the taxpayers’ dime days before Christmas 2022 — a move critics are citing as clashing with his campaign image as a political outsider fighting for the working class.

The pay hike brought state lawmaker pay from $110,000 to $142,000 a year, after they gave themselves a bump from $79,500 just three years earlier.

That brought the state legislature including Mamdani – who lives in one of the city’s coveted rent-stabilized apartments — to an income level that is now 77% above the median for city dwellers, and almost three times that of the median for New York state residents. 

Mamdani voted in lockstep with the Democratic establishment, who justified the holiday gift to themselves by also setting new increases on outside income. But Republicans argued that move would backfire and attract career politicians of the type Mamdani has since positioned himself against during his mayoral run.

“People were hoodwinked into believing it’s a good idea because it sounds like you’re punishing politicians,” said state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-24), who voted against the raise.

“At the end of the day, you’re going to have nothing but billionaires and bums because you’re not going to have people (in government) who have real world skills,” Lanza said.

The vote –  which took place as inflation was at red-hot levels — also received criticism from Republicans who said the raise was out of touch given the country and state’s financial outlook.

“What was disturbing to me was it was taking place before Christmas when nobody was paying attention,” said State Sen. George Borello (R-57), who also voted against the bill. 

Borello criticized Mamdani’s support of the bill, saying it showed he doesn’t “practice what he preaches.”

“I’m not surprised but it is certainly hypocritical of him to talk about the fact he wants to uplift poor people while voting to raise his own salary,” Borello said.

Mamdani did not respond to The Post’s request for comment. 

The pay bump cemented New York legislators as the highest paid in the country, bringing their salaries $14,000 above that of California.

The votes passed easily in both legislative bodies, with a 85-52 margin in the Assembly.

Piling on to the criticism of Mamdani’s vote was former state Assemblyman Mike Lawler, who is now serving in the US House of Representatives.

“If Zohran was serious about spreading the wealth, he would be talking about reducing Albany’s outrageous salaries to match the median salary for full-time workers in New York: $68,891,” he said.

At the time of the bill’s passing, Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins admitted she knew the choice to bump salaries wouldn’t be particularly popular.

“I don’t expect anyone to like it,” she said at a 2022 press conference – but defended the decision. “Sooner or later, in order to be able to afford to do the job, we have to raise salaries.”

Republicans have staved off the clause that will cap legislators’ outside income at $35,000 with legal challenges. As of now, the ban won’t be implemented until 2027.