New York Governor Kathy Hochul attempted to explain away chants of “tax the rich” that interrupted her appearance at a rally for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Sunday, telling reporters she initially thought the crowd was cheering for the Buffalo Bills, as reported by The New York Post.
“I thought they were saying, ‘Let’s go Bills,’” Hochul said when asked by a New York Post reporter about the chant that overtook her remarks. “I wasn’t sure… I heard some noise, I heard a lot of cheers. But later on it became clear to me, I know there is a passion for that.”
The governor made the comments during a Monday press conference following the weekend event at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens.
The rally, titled “New York Is Not For Sale,” featured prominent left-wing figures including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, both of whom joined Mamdani to campaign on his platform centered around higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers.
The chants erupted while Hochul took the stage to speak. Her endorsement of Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, drew attention from both sides of the political spectrum, given her prior reservations about his “tax the rich” agenda.
Despite the disruption, Hochul attempted to portray the moment as a sign of enthusiasm among Democrats.
“I love the energy out there, I told them that,” Hochul said Monday. “What I want to do is bottle all that up and use it in a few days.”
Kathy Hochul oddly drags Buffalo Bills into ‘tax the rich’ chant that overwhelmed her appearance at Zohran Mamdani rally https://t.co/tTLLtrO6Nv pic.twitter.com/1vBIiNrzL6
— New York Post (@nypost) October 27, 2025
The incident underscored ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party in New York between establishment leaders like Hochul and the party’s progressive faction, represented by figures such as Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, and Mamdani.
Hochul’s endorsement of Mamdani followed similar moves by other top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has also backed the candidate despite criticism of Mamdani’s calls to raise taxes on high earners.
The rally drew a large crowd of progressive activists, many holding signs advocating for wealth redistribution and expanded social programs.
Mamdani, who currently represents Astoria in the New York State Assembly, has built his campaign around issues such as rent stabilization, public housing investment, and corporate taxation.
His platform has attracted national attention due to his alignment with socialist lawmakers and outspoken opposition to pro-business policies.
The “tax the rich” chant has become a frequent slogan at Mamdani’s campaign events, echoing through rallies across New York City. Hochul’s attempt to pass it off as support for the Buffalo Bills quickly circulated online, with clips of her remarks garnering thousands of views within hours.
🙄 Clown ~ ~ Kathy Hochul oddly drags Buffalo Bills into ‘tax the rich’ chant that overwhelmed her appearance at Zohran Mamdani rally https://t.co/tjqyVAL4OS pic.twitter.com/ocazU30P2U
— Mary (@matjendav4) October 27, 2025
