In the end, Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries on Friday endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, ending months of hand-wringing over whether or not the social gathering institution would lastly get off the fence.
The nod, first reported by Politico, lands simply forward of early voting, which begins Saturday.
Jeffries had mentioned earlier he would weigh in “well before” the beginning of early voting. However as The New York Instances reported, the minority chief pushed the announcement again due to the continued authorities shutdown—a delay that solely fueled hypothesis about his political calculus.
The backing carries weight since Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat, is a nationwide social gathering chief, one of many metropolis’s most seen Black politicians, and a long-time critic of the Democratic Socialists of America, the group Mamdani belongs to.
In his assertion to The Instances, Jeffries mentioned he and Mamdani don’t see eye to eye on all the things, however he made clear that the assemblyman had gained a “free and fair” main. He forged the endorsement as a name for Democrats to shut ranks in opposition to what he known as an “existential” risk posed by President Donald Trump.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, proven in December 2024.
“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 wrote. “In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”
The lead-up to Friday’s announcement was something however clean. Jeffries met twice with Mamdani in Brooklyn and dodged repeated questions from reporters, typically deflecting by advising them to “stay tuned.”
Jeffries’ workplace didn’t reply to Day by day Kos’ request for remark.
Some moderates fear Mamdani’s progressive politics may harm Democrats in swing districts, whilst Jeffries retains his deal with reclaiming the Home majority in 2026.
Even after Mamdani trounced his main opponents in June, Jeffries stored the assemblyman at arm’s size—till now. His long-awaited endorsement now leaves Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer because the final main New York Democrat nonetheless sitting on the sidelines.
Different New York Democrats, like New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, seem unlikely to leap in.
Mamdani, 34, has gained over a lot of the social gathering’s management, together with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. In September, Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Pat Ryan of New York additionally endorsed him. However the query of Jeffries’ help has loomed over the race for months, with strain mounting from each native progressives and nationwide Democrats aware of the midterm stakes.
“Assemblyman Mamdani has promised to focus on keeping every New Yorker safe, including the Jewish community that has confronted a startling rise in antisemitic incidents as well as Black and Latino neighborhoods that have battled deadly gun violence for years,” Jeffries advised The Instances.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, heart, speaks throughout a mayoral debate with unbiased candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani on Oct. 16 in New York Metropolis.
Jeffries additionally faces potential political strain at dwelling. Forces aligned with Mamdani may mount a left-wing main problem in Jeffries’ central Brooklyn district—a prospect the congressman has mentioned he would welcome.
The endorsement is a blow to disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’s working as a third-party candidate after dropping the Democratic main to Mamdani. Cuomo has tried to take advantage of social gathering divisions to rally moderates, independents, and Republicans in opposition to Mamdani, however he stays a distant second within the polls.
Cuomo did choose up one notable backer this week: Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped his reelection bid amid scandals and low polling numbers. Adams warned that Mamdani’s ideology may put town in danger.
Public polling reveals Mamdani coming into the race’s closing stretch in a robust place. Cuomo’s path appears more and more slender so long as Republican Curtis Sliwa stays within the race, siphoning off anti-Mamdani voters.
On Friday, Jeffries emphasised Mamdani’s dedication to constructing extra housing and reducing prices in “working-class neighborhoods of color that have been hurt by gentrification and housing displacement.”
After months of delay, the political maneuvering is over. With Jeffries’ endorsement, the Democratic institution is lastly acknowledging what polls have lengthy made clear: Mamdani is the frontrunner and sure the following mayor of New York Metropolis.
