Common Defense Veterans Endorse Zohran Mamdani New York City Mayor

New York, NY - Today, Common Defense, the nation’s largest grassroots organization of veterans and military families, is proud to endorse Zohran Mamdani for New York City Mayor. 

Common Defense represents more than 550,000 veterans, military family members, and civilian allies across the country, including thousands who call New York home. Veterans know what real leadership looks like: service before self, a commitment to community, and the courage to fight for what’s right. Zohran Mamdani has proven those values every day in the State Assembly, throughout the campaign trail, and now he’s ready to bring them to City Hall. 

New York native Jose Vasquez, U.S. Army veteran and Executive Director of Common Defense, released the following statement:

“We are proud to endorse Zohran Mamdani for New York City Mayor. Mamdani brings a spirit of service to every fight he takes on. From his work to expand affordable housing, public transit, and fighting for working class New Yorkers, he carries a strong commitment to making New York a city where working people can thrive. Mamdani embodies the values we veterans swore to defend: justice, equality, and democracy.” 

Naveed Shah, U.S. Army veteran and Political Director at Common Defense, said:

“Veterans know what it means to fight for the people around you. Zohran Mamdani has spent his career doing exactly that. Mamdani has stood shoulder to shoulder with working-class New Yorkers, organizing for justice, and winning results amid a system that has too often prioritized billionaires over families. He represents the kind of moral leadership and courage that this moment demands. Common Defense is proud to stand with him.”

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Common Defense Civic Engagement (501c4) (CDCE) is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.