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Which immigrant and Muslim organizations publicly endorsed Mahmood Mamdani in the 2025 university controversy?
Executive summary
Available reporting identifies at least one named immigrant-rights group — New York Immigration Coalition Action — that publicly endorsed Zohran Mamdani during the 2025 mayoral contest; multiple other immigrant and Muslim organizations are described as supporters in broader coverage but not always named consistently in the provided files [1] [2] [3]. Coverage also highlights a collection of Muslim leaders, mosques and networks who publicly backed or celebrated Mamdani, while some outlets emphasize controversial affiliations or activists connected to his political orbit [2] [4] [5].
1. Who explicitly endorsed Mamdani: one named immigrant political arm
City & State reports that New York Immigration Coalition Action — the political arm of the New York Immigration Coalition — publicly endorsed Mamdani in July 2025, citing the group’s political decision to back him for mayor and framing the endorsement around immigrant rights and his affordability platform [1].
2. Broader immigrant-organizing support described in left-leaning and activist outlets
Long-form and activist outlets describe a broad base of immigrant-group organizing behind Mamdani — for example, CAAAV and other grassroots immigrant groups are credited with door-knocking and constituent outreach that powered his victory — but those pieces focus on activity and coalition-building rather than formal, headline-style endorsements by a long list of named organizations [6] [7].
3. Muslim leaders, mosques and networks repeatedly identified as supporters
National outlets and local reporting list numerous Muslim figures and networks who publicly backed or celebrated Mamdani: coverage cites endorsements or strong public support from Muslim community leaders and clergy, and notes he was embraced by a range of Muslim organizations and activists during the campaign [2] [3] [4]. Fox News and others compiled lists of clerics and Muslim activists who “have his back,” while The New York Times and The Guardian describe broad support from Muslim constituencies in the city [2] [3] [4].
4. Where sources name specific Muslim endorsers — examples and context
Fox News’ summary highlights particular Muslim figures who publicly praised Mamdani or framed his win as significant within Muslim America; that piece mentions Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Imam Khalid Latif and Yasir Qadhi among high-profile religious figures tied in reporting to public support or praise [2]. The New York Times similarly documented his outreach to Muslim communities and the prominence of Muslim supporters on the campaign trail [3].
5. Competing framings and why lists vary by outlet
Mainstream and progressive outlets emphasize civic and immigrant-group endorsements and frame Mamdani’s coalition as multiethnic and immigrant-led [6] [3]. Conservative and some right-leaning outlets foreground connections they characterize as controversial — pointing to activists and networks (including ties to Linda Sarsour or others) and amplifying scrutiny over some endorsers’ past statements — producing different lists and emphases across publications [5] [2].
6. Claims of endorsements from extremist groups — what reporting says
Some social media claims and right-wing posts purported extremist endorsements (for example, an alleged Islamic State endorsement) circulated during the campaign; fact‑checking outlets found those claims unlikely or unverified, noting pro-ISIS outlets had previously criticized Muslims supporting Mamdani rather than endorsing him [8]. Where outlets explicitly tie Mamdani to controversial activists, they document those personal or organizational ties — but the provided fact-checking and international reporting found no verified endorsement from designated terrorist groups [8] [9].
7. Limitations in the available reporting and what’s not found
Available sources in this packet name New York Immigration Coalition Action as a formal immigrant-group endorsement and document broad Muslim-community support and specific clerical praises, but they do not produce a single, authoritative list that itemizes every immigrant or Muslim organization that issued an explicit endorsement [1] [2] [3]. If you’re seeking a comprehensive roster of every organization that issued a public endorsement, available sources do not mention a full compiled list.
8. How to read the differences and next steps for verification
Expect variation by outlet: activist outlets spotlight grassroots immigrant organizations and field work [6], mainstream outlets highlight institutional endorsements and elected officials [4] [10], while conservative outlets emphasize controversial religious figures or past activist networks [2] [5]. For a complete, attributable roster, consult the public endorsement pages or press releases of Mamdani’s campaign, the named organizations’ statements, and local political trackers; those primary-source endorsements are not fully reproduced in the reporting provided here (not found in current reporting).