Hochul Brushes Off “Tax the Rich” Chants at Mamdani Rally — Says She Thought Crowd Was Cheering for the Buffalo Bills

New York Governor Kathy Hochul faced an awkward moment during her appearance at a campaign rally for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Sunday, where loud chants of “tax the rich” erupted from the crowd. The governor later claimed she initially mistook the chant for something more familiar: a Buffalo Bills cheer.

“I honestly thought they were saying ‘Let’s go Bills,’” Hochul told reporters on Monday when asked about the incident. “I heard a lot of noise and cheering — I didn’t catch what was being said right away. Later I realized there was a bit more to it.”

The rally, held at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, was part of the “New York Is Not for Sale” tour featuring progressive heavyweights Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. The event drew a passionate crowd supporting Mamdani, a democratic socialist whose campaign has centered on taxing corporations and the state’s wealthiest residents.

A Party Rift on Display

Hochul’s appearance underscored the ideological divide within New York’s Democratic Party. The governor — who has often stressed affordability and economic moderation — had delayed endorsing Mamdani after his primary victory earlier this year, citing concerns about his proposal to raise taxes on the rich.

“I’m focused on keeping New York affordable,” Hochul said following Mamdani’s nomination in June. “Raising taxes doesn’t achieve that goal.”

Even after finally offering her endorsement in September, Hochul admitted the two don’t always see eye-to-eye. Their joint push for universal childcare, estimated to cost roughly $6 billion, has become a focal point of that balancing act. Mamdani argues that taxing the wealthy would cover the cost, while Hochul insists there are other ways to fund the initiative without increasing tax rates.

Chants, Cheers, and the Buffalo Bills

Asked Monday about the rally’s chant, Hochul downplayed the tension, remarking, “There are a lot of popular slogans out there. I just try to stay focused on what’s realistic.”

A spokesperson did not confirm whether the governor was joking about mishearing the chant.