Jeffries Questions Support for Mamdani’s Mayoral Campaign
On Thursday, House Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries raised questions about his lack of support for socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is running for mayor of New York City under the Democratic banner. Jeffries represents the district that includes Mamdani and noted that he isn’t pushing his colleagues to back democratic socialists. His comments come amid rising tensions among some Democrats who are increasingly frustrated by their party’s varied support for socialist candidates.
When questioned about his party alignment, Jeffries expressed uncertainty. “I don’t know,” he said regarding whether he’s out of touch with his party’s sentiments. He referred to the nuanced perspectives of his constituents, suggesting they might not feel the same way he does.
🚨 Leader Jeffries when asked how his members view Zohran Mamdani, “You have to ask them. I am not hiding from my members… I am going to the mosque.”
Mamdani achieved a surprising win over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, capturing a significant portion of Jeffries’ base. Since that nomination, Jeffries has met with Mamdani twice, yet he hasn’t publicly endorsed the candidate.
Meanwhile, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, part of the Democratic party’s left wing and a prospective presidential candidate for 2028, criticized Jeffries for not supporting Mamdani. While some lawmakers highlight her 2020 backing of then-President Joe Biden despite differing viewpoints, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the importance of demonstrating party unity in order to encourage voter support later on.
“If an individual doesn’t support party candidates now, it complicates the ability to ask voters to support them in the future,” she explained.
Jeffries acknowledged the need to gauge how his members feel about Mamdani but insisted it was up to them to voice their opinions. “I think you have to ask them,” Jeffries stated, insisting that he’s not avoiding discussion.
“I’m going to various community spaces—mosques, synagogues, churches, and parks,” he added, indicating he’s engaged with the community.
On social media, the Democratic National Committee expressed support for Mamdani, sharing a clip of him inviting skeptics to join his campaign. “We welcome anyone to join this movement,” Mamdani remarked, noting that newcomers are not judged on their past involvement.
Despite Mamdani’s invitation for Jeffries to support his bid, a Democrat at Reed House suggested patience regarding any endorsements of socialists seeking police refunds. “New Yorkers aren’t ashamed,” Jeffries concluded. “It’s really not hard to grasp what people think about this issue. I’m open to welcoming that conversation.”
