Hakeem Jeffries to Endorse Zohran Mamdani for NYC Mayor/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor just before early voting begins. The move ends months of silence and intensifies divisions within the Democratic Party. Jeffries joins other top Democrats backing Mamdani, a democratic socialist whose policies have stirred internal debate.
Mamdani Endorsement Quick Look
- Hakeem Jeffries to endorse Zohran Mamdani Friday ahead of early voting.
- Jeffries held out for months, citing concerns over Mamdani’s positions.
- Endorsement follows meetings with Mamdani and pressure from progressives.
- Gov. Kathy Hochul and key lawmakers have also endorsed Mamdani.
- Sen. Chuck Schumer and party chair Jay Jacobs have not endorsed him.
- Jeffries praised Mamdani’s housing focus but raised concerns over antisemitism and gentrification.
- Mamdani has asked NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to remain, winning centrist praise.
- Jeffries calls for turning “proposals into real plans” if Mamdani wins.
- Party still split, with some moderates withholding endorsements.
- Endorsement seen as pivotal with 2026 midterms approaching.
Hakeem Jeffries to Endorse Zohran Mamdani for NYC Mayor: Deep Look
NEW YORK — After months of calculated silence and mounting political pressure, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will endorse Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist and Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, on Friday afternoon, according to two people familiar with the decision.
The long-anticipated endorsement arrives just one day before early voting begins, marking a pivotal moment in the 2025 mayoral race and a potentially polarizing one for the fractured New York Democratic Party.
Jeffries’ support follows a string of recent endorsements for Mamdani from top state Democrats, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. But Jeffries had, until now, remained publicly noncommittal — despite Mamdani’s resounding primary win in June and growing pressure from progressives in Congress.
The endorsement is expected to be issued via a written statement, not an in-person event, signaling a deliberately low-key rollout in contrast to Mamdani’s high-energy campaign style.
A Party Divided
Jeffries’ decision will likely deepen tensions within the Democratic Party, especially among moderates who view Mamdani’s brand of democratic socialism as risky in competitive House districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer now remains the only key figure in New York’s Democratic leadership who has yet to back Mamdani. Meanwhile, state party chair Jay Jacobs has outright refused to endorse the nominee, underscoring the ideological rifts within the party.
Jeffries has previously expressed mixed feelings about Mamdani. While he praised the candidate’s focus on affordability and housing justice following his primary win, he also voiced concern over Mamdani’s refusal to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada”, and questioned his plans to tackle gentrification, particularly in historically Black neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
“We’ve got to figure out moving forward how we turn proposals into actual plans so that he is successful if he becomes the next mayor,” Jeffries told CNN last month.
Behind the Scenes
According to sources, Jeffries’ endorsement followed two in-person meetings in Brooklyn with Mamdani and several of his allies, including a second session that featured Reps. Jerry Nadler, Yvette Clarke, and Adriano Espaillat — all of whom have since endorsed Mamdani.
Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton reportedly helped facilitate conversations between both camps.
Jeffries, who’s navigating high-stakes national politics including a looming government shutdown and efforts to reclaim the House majority, has frequently deflected questions about Mamdani with a stock “stay tuned.” In one recent interaction with reporters, he clarified:
“I have not refused to endorse. I have refused to articulate my position.”
Despite discomfort in some moderate circles, Mamdani’s candidacy continues to gain institutional backing. And in a move that helped soothe centrist critics, he recently asked NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to remain in her role — a decision Jeffries applauded.
Still No Unified Front
While Jeffries’ endorsement brings significant weight to Mamdani’s general election push, the Democratic Party remains far from unified.
- Rep. Ritchie Torres has said he won’t endorse in the race.
- Rep. Dan Goldman is still undecided.
- Jay Jacobs has made it clear he’ll sit the race out.
All three are prominent defenders of Israel and have expressed discomfort with some of Mamdani’s rhetoric and positions.
In contrast, Jeffries’ endorsement — even if delayed — may help Mamdani bridge the gap between New York’s progressive base and institutional leadership, particularly as the race enters its final phase.
Looking Ahead
With the endorsement now official, Jeffries may face new rounds of scrutiny, not only over Mamdani’s candidacy but also over what his support signals about the future direction of the Democratic Party — both in New York and nationally.
In August, clearly frustrated by repeated media questions about Mamdani, Jeffries told CNBC:
“I’m trying to understand why you would spend a significant amount of time asking me about the Democratic nominee who’s not even the mayor.”
As Mamdani edges closer to City Hall, those questions are only likely to increase.
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