Comptroller Brad Lander and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani made the announcement Friday morning. The move is not particularly surprising. The two say their joint commitment is an effort to unite against former Gov.

Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander, the two leading progressive candidates in the race, hope their partnership will help them leverage the ranked-choice voting system to defeat Andrew M. Cuomo.

Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander, the highest-ranking progressive candidates in the race, endorsed each other Friday, one day after the final Democratic primary debate during which both attacked Cuomo. The former governor saved most of his fire for Mamdani, who is nipping at his heels in the final stretch of the race.