House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has not yet endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York City Mayor. This comes as the general election approaches, raising questions about Jeffries’ support for Mamdani, who describes himself as a democratic socialist.
In a recent interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, Jeffries acknowledged that he has been asked about endorsing Mamdani multiple times but has not made a commitment. He expressed a desire to have further discussions with Mamdani ahead of early voting, which begins next weekend in New York City. Jeffries stated, “I will certainly have more to say about the mayor’s race and about our Democratic nominee prior to early voting beginning.”
Karl pressed Jeffries on why he hasn’t endorsed Mamdani, despite his victory in the Democratic primary. Jeffries responded by highlighting the positive conversations he has had with Mamdani over the past few months, focusing on community issues and making the city more affordable. However, he did not directly address the reasons for his hesitation.
Jeffries mentioned that their districts do not overlap, and he has not had a substantive conversation with Mamdani yet. He emphasized the importance of discussing Mamdani’s vision for the city and addressing issues relevant to his constituents. Jeffries also called on Mamdani to clarify his stance on Israel, particularly in light of comments that have raised concerns within the Jewish community he represents. He pointed out that phrases like “Globalizing the Intifada” are unacceptable and stressed the need for Mamdani to address rising antisemitism in New York City.
Some observers have noted that Jeffries, who represents a district with a significant Jewish population, may have reservations about Mamdani’s support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. There are also concerns about Mamdani’s statement that he would seek to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited New York City.
As the election nears, the pressure is on Jeffries to make a decision regarding his endorsement of Mamdani, leaving many to wonder how this will impact the race for mayor in New York City.
