New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (R), New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (L), and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (R) and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (L) at a Buffalo Bills watch party on Sunday
View 9 Images
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez turned to the NFL to help rally support for Democrats ahead of the November 3 midterm elections by attending a Buffalo Bills watch party for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Mamdani, 35, and Ocasio-Cortez, 37, joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul at Murphy's Sports Bar in Astoria, Queens, to watch the Bills defeat the Ravens 36-10 on the team's return from a bye week, spending the first half of the game speaking with voters.
Governor Hochul, 68, a native of the Buffalo area and a lifelong Bills fan, used the event to project party unity, with Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez being called upon to help energize the party's progressive base and ensure a strong voter turnout in New York City.
READ MORE: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may be signaling Senate run with NFL move alongside Mamdani
READ MORE: MNF viewers think they could see clear sign of tensions between Troy Aikman and Joe Buck
Arriving in style
Hochul and Ocasio-Cortez both turned up to the event repping Bills merchandise, with the New York Governor wearing a Bills letterman jacket and cap, while the latter donned a Bills shirt over a black long-sleeve. Mamdani , meanwhile, stuck to his signature black suit, though he wore a chicken-wing necklace to match the theme.
View 9 Images
2 of 9
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez j Governor Kathy Hochul and Zohran Mamdani
Although Ocasio-Cortez represents a district spanning parts of the Bronx and Queens, traditionally home to New York Giants and Jets fans, she has increasingly aligned herself with the Bills. When questioned by reporters outside Murphy's Sports Bar about her football credentials, the U.S. Representative defended her fandom by saying, "If you rewind the clock, when I played Tim Walz in Madden, the Bills were my team! Just check the receipts."(Image: Bernadette Hogan/X)
View 9 Images
3 of 9
Once inside the venue, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez took a seat on either side of Hochul, with images showing them surrounded by Bills merchandise and memorabilia as they glanced up at the TV showing the game.
View 9 Images
4 of 9
Mamdani and AOC made sure to fully immerse themselves in the experience by indulging in the traditional matchday food and drink, with chicken wings and loaded fries visible on the table in front of them, while the latter even had a pint of what appeared to be Guinness.
View 9 Images
5 of 9
While everyone's primary focus was watching the game, Mamdani and AOC also made sure to rally support for Democrats ahead of the impending midterm elections. The two progressive politicians are said to have spent the first half of the game speaking with voters, and it certainly appeared as though they weren't short on people to speak to.
View 9 Images
6 of 9
While much of the focus was on Mamdani and AOC, they were actually at the watch party to project party unity for Governor Hochul, who is facing a tight gubernatorial race against Republican Bruce Blakeman.
View 9 Images
7 of 9