New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has joined the list of people endorsing Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City.

"I'm here today to say I am proudly endorsing Zohran to be our next mayor of the city of New York," Heastie said Wednesday during a joint announcement in his Bronx district. "It wasn't rocket science. Zohran ran a hell of a campaign." 

Heastie said there are many reasons why, including their work together in the Assembly, particularly proposals for free bus service.

"But I represent probably the second largest Black community in the entire state of New York. And if you notice over the years, the number one population that is leaving New York has been the Black community, African American community, because of affordability," he said. "And Zohran's message has really translated into people's consciousness that we actually have to have a place that people can afford to live." 

"Sometimes people want to be romanced"

He said Mamdani told him about his plan to run for mayor over a year ago at a community barbecue.

"I truly respected that he felt, as his Speaker, that he wanted to let me know what his plans were," Heastie said, adding, "Zohran and I have communicated all throughout." 

He also said he doesn't often make endorsements outside his district, but was compelled to come forward in this election.

"I do think this city is clamoring for something new and different," Heastie said. "One of the things that's been great about Zohran's campaign is he has a romantic view of what this city can be and should be, and sometimes people want to be romanced."

Mamdani said it was an honor to stand beside Heastie and other democratic leaders from the Bronx for Wednesday's endorsement.

"It is an honor, it is a privilege and it is a joy to showcase to New Yorkers the politics of the future that will build on the examples of what can be done when we put the politics of the people first," said Mamdani.

What about a millionaires tax? 

Heastie's announcement follows another major endorsement from Gov. Kathy Hochul over the weekend, even though Hochul and Mamdani have differences on a number of issues, including taxing the rich - a so-called millionaires tax. 

Heastie admitted he likes the idea of taxing the rich. 

"I'll tell this, millionaire taxes poll extremely well. And so, but again, we're just in the Assembly. We're one leg of the tripod," Heastie said. 

CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer asked Heastie if the fact that Hochul is facing a tough reelection battle next year would stop the tax the rich idea. 

"There's many, many ways to raise revenue in this state," Heastie said. 

Mamdani said he still wants to tax the rich, but agreed there are other ways to do it. 

"There are many other means by which to find that revenue. The most important thing is what we fund, not how we fund it," Mamdani said. 

Adams shrugs off Mamdani endorsements

Mayor Eric Adams, meanwhile, told Kramer that the Mamdani endorsements won't stop him. 

Asked if he was going to campaign all the way through the election cycle, "I'm going to keep going," Adams said. 

Adams seemed bitter about the tone of the campaign and ugly rhetoric he claims he's been subjected to by supporters of the Queens assemblyman. 

"Mamdani 's supporters, a substantial number of them, are mean people. They're arrogant. They're nasty. They have a total disregard for others," Adams said. "We were walking through the church the other day, getting ready to go for service, and they yelled out, 'F*** you! F*** you!,' yelling across the street."

Mamdani's campaign offered a response.

"It speaks volumes that the mayor -- especially at a time of heightened political violence -- would choose to spread dangerous lies about the New Yorkers he was elected to serve, all while never refusing to condemn [President] Trump's threats to deport and arrest Zohran Mamdani," the campaign said in a statement.

Mamdani picking up endorsements as Election Day approaches

A CBS News mayoral poll earlier this week showed Mamdani leading at 43%, followed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo at 28%, Republican Curtis Sliwa at 15% and Adams at 6%.

It came a day after Hochul said in an op-ed that she's backing Mamdani because she thinks he has a backbone.

"What this city needs is someone who's going to stand up to Donald Trump aggressively and not cave and not be bought off," the governor said Tuesday. 

She also said that she doesn't support all of his proposals, including his desire to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he comes to New York, citing a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over Netanyahu's conduct in the war in Gaza. 

"I would say that Benjamin Netanyahu is a person who is nowhere near unanimously supported by Jewish New Yorkers," Mamdani said Monday. "And that is in opposition, because of the fact that we are speaking about a war crime."

Even though several democratic players have endorsed Mamdani, at least two representatives from Long Island -- Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen, who are in swing districts -- say they will not be following suit.