House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York on Friday formally endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, bringing an end to months of hesitation that had drawn increasing scrutiny from both reporters and progressive activists.
The announcement came at the last possible moment — the day before early voting begins — underscoring the tension within the Democratic Party over the direction of the city’s leadership.
Jeffries offered measured praise for the candidate, who identifies as a Democratic Socialist and has promoted proposals far outside the mainstream of national Democratic politics. “Zohran Mamdani has relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy,” Jeffries said in a statement. “In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”
The endorsement marks a significant political moment for Jeffries, who has often positioned himself as a pragmatic Democrat trying to distance his caucus from the more radical voices in his party. Mamdani, however, has championed ideas that critics warn would undermine public safety and economic stability in the nation’s largest city. His platform has included calls to abolish prisons and impose higher taxes on neighborhoods he has described as “whiter,” policies opponents say would deepen social divisions rather than solve them.
Mamdani’s rise has nevertheless reflected the leftward shift of New York City’s Democratic base. In June, he defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in what was widely seen as a stunning upset. The primary win delivered a clear message from the city’s progressive activists, who have broken sharply with the moderate approach once associated with Cuomo-era Democrats.
Current polling shows Mamdani maintaining a commanding lead in the general election campaign, with a nearly 20-point advantage over Cuomo, who is now running as an Independent. Republican nominee Curtis Silwa — a longtime public safety advocate and radio commentator — has struggled to gain traction and trails far behind both candidates.
Jeffries had carefully avoided discussing Mamdani’s candidacy for months, even as members of his own party demanded clarity on whether he would support the Democratic ticket. His reservations centered on what he described as concerns about Mamdani’s “past rhetoric on Israel and anti-Semitism” as well as whether the candidate is prepared to address the lasting effects of gentrification in Black neighborhoods.
The process that yielded Friday’s endorsement reportedly included two in-person meetings in Brooklyn mediated by civil rights advocate Al Sharpton, suggesting the challenges of forging unity between the party establishment and the hard-left faction that propelled Mamdani’s rise.
Progressives celebrated the news as a victory for ideological purity. Yet the timing — and the reluctance leading up to it — reflected a deeper unease within Democratic ranks. With New York City confronting persistent affordability issues, frustrations over crime, and the continued strain of out-migration, some Democrats are openly questioning whether the far-left prescriptions promoted by Mamdani will restore confidence in city governance or push voters further toward alternatives.
Jeffries, the highest-ranking Democrat to weigh in thus far, now joins the effort to elevate a candidate whose agenda could significantly reshape the city. Whether his endorsement will soothe party divides or only highlight them remains to be seen.
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