House Democrat Leader Jeffries Relents, Endorses Mamdani for NYC Mayor

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday endorsed Democrat nominee Zohran Mamdani to be New York City’s next mayor, in so doing becoming the most senior-ranking national Democrat figure to support the self-described socialist’s bid for Gracie Mansion.

“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 provided to The New York Times announcing his endorsement. “In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”

Nevertheless, Jeffries is not without reservations about him, telling The New York Times that the two have “areas of principled disagreement.” Despite these reservations, Jeffries is endorsing Mamdani because the Queens Assemblyman won “a free and fair election” in the Democrat primary and Democrats need to stand united against the “existential” threat of President Donald Trump.

The endorsement comes at a pivotal time in the race as Mamdani’s opposition is organizing behind former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s bid and early voting will begin in a matter of days.

Jeffries, D-N.Y., who represents part of Brooklyn, had refused to weigh in on the mayoral race for months. As late as Friday morning, Jeffries shirked the opportunity to endorse a candidate.

“I have not refused to endorse,” he told reporters. “I have refused to articulate my position, and I will, momentarily, at some point, in advance of early voting.”

Mamdani won the Democratic mayoral primary on June 24, and early voting begins on Saturday ahead of the Nov. 4 election.

Early on, Mamdani picked up support from fellow democratic socialists Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Mamdani has also received endorsements from other prominent Democrats, among them New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, the lack of an endorsement from Jeffries or from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., suggests many national Democrat leaders have been hesitant to support him. Van Hollen has accused New York Democrats of “spineless politics” for not backing Mamdani.

Mamdani has passed on opportunities to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” has defended Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, and has called for city-run grocery stores and a freeze on rents as ways to address the city’s affordability crisis. 

He has also released a policy proposal to budget $65 million for “gender-affirming care” for “both transgender youth and adults.”

Jeffries is endorsing Mamdani at a time when he is also attempting to deliver a message on the ongoing government shutdown.

Mamdani will face off against Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and former Democrat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. The incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, was elected as a Democrat in 2021, but chose to run as an independent in 2025 before ultimately dropping out.

Adams has endorsed Cuomo, while President Donald Trump has told The Daily Signal that Mamdani “should be able to win,” given his lead in the polls.

The president has, however, indicated his preference for Cuomo over Mamdani, telling The Daily Signal, “I would rather have a Democrat than a communist.”

A RealClearPolitics aggregation of October polls shows Mamdani leading Cuomo 47% to 29.8%, with Sliwa at a distant third place with 16% support. Sliwa has vowed not to drop out of the race.

Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell contributed to this report.

The post House Democrat Leader Jeffries Relents, Endorses Mamdani for NYC Mayor appeared first on The Daily Signal.