Mayor Adams endorses Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto in race against AOC-backed challenger

A political proxy war is brewing in the Boogie Down.

Mayor Adams is endorsing longtime Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto for reelection, giving the incumbent a major boost as he prepares to face off in this month’s Democratic primary against a progressive challenger backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Benedetto, who has represented the 82nd Assembly District since 2005, earned Adams’ endorsement because he “shares my vision for our NYC public schools and will work hard to ensure Albany delivers for all residents of NYC,” the mayor told the Daily News on Wednesday.

“Mike always puts his community first. Whether it’s funding our education system, fighting for public safety, or ensuring that our homeowners and renters have safe, affordable and thriving communities to live, work and retire in, Mike gets the job done!” Adams said in a statement ahead of a formal endorsement announcement set for Thursday.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (left) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. (right)

Benedetto is chairman of the Assembly’s Education Committee, and Adams’ accolades for his work on education issues come after he played a key role in brokering a compromise deal in the Legislature earlier this month to extend mayoral control of the city’s public school system.

The 75-year-old assemblyman faces Jonathan Soto in the June 28 primary.

A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Soto is a former campaign staffer to Ocasio-Cortez who netted the left-wing congresswoman’s endorsement last month. Soto has also been endorsed by progressive Bronx state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, whose district overlaps with parts of Benedetto’s.

Benedetto has taken aim at Soto’s support for reducing the NYPD budget and accused him of being too far left for his district, which covers a section of East Bronx that includes conservative-leaning areas like Throgs Neck and City Island.

New York State Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx) (Jeff Bachner/)

Though he backed Shaun Donovan over Adams in last year’s mayoral race, Benedetto said Hizzoner’s support will serve as a critical counterweight against the endorsements Soto has racked up from the Democratic Party’s left flank.

“If we’re playing cards, we just trumped the endorsements that Soto has, that’s for sure,” Benedetto said in a phone interview Wednesday. “I think [Adams] is well regarded throughout my community. No matter where you go, I think the mayor is looked at very favorably.”

The Benedetto announcement is only the fourth endorsement Adams has made in this year’s state legislative election cycle, underscoring the importance of the race for the mayor.

Soto, in turn, has slammed Benedetto as a product of an entrenched system of incumbency in Albany and argues that the 82nd District needs fresh representation. The insurgent has also taken intense issue with Adams.

“This mayor is Trump 2.0. There is no if, and or buts about it,” Soto said of Adams in an Instagram video this spring.

Jonathan Soto

The endorsement battle between Ocasio-Cortez and Adams comes as their professional relationship remains cordial but from a distance.

On the campaign trail last summer, Adams lambasted the socialist wing of the Democratic Party that Ocasio-Cortez is affiliated with, accusing its members of “mobilizing” against him.

A few months after those comments, Adams participated in a tense meeting on Capitol Hill with members of New York’s congressional delegation, including Ocasio-Cortez, where he faced some criticism for his remarks.

However, when Adams traveled to Washington on Wednesday to meet with members of the delegation again, Ocasio-Cortez and several other progressive New York members were noticeably absent from the sitdown.