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Mamdani Stands By Adviser Morris Katz After Platner Campaign Collapse

The mayor's backing highlights tensions over vetting and consultant influence within the progressive movement.

Overview

  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday he will continue to work with Morris Katz and called Katz a top adviser despite calls from local Democratic Socialists of America members to cut ties.
  • Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign after a Politico report of an alleged rape and earlier revelations about a contentious tattoo and social-media posts, and reporting has since focused scrutiny on the campaign's fast, limited vetting.
  • The DSA circulated a letter urging members and progressive campaigns to stop hiring Katz, citing his role recruiting and backing Platner even as scandals stacked up.
  • Media reports and the Bangor Daily News published messages that allegedly show Katz tried to dissuade a former Platner staffer from speaking to reporters, while Katz posted that his team advised Platner to suspend and helped wind down the campaign.
  • Katz's firm Fight Agency built a reputation on digital, youth-focused strategy after Mamdani's 2025 win, and the episode could prompt tighter vetting rules and renewed debate inside the left over accountability versus political loyalty.