House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Endorses Mamdani Ahead of NYC Mayoral Election, Signals Democratic Approval of Anti-Israel Agenda

By: Russ Spencer

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday formally endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City, marking a significant moment of party unity in a race that has exposed deep ideological divisions within the city’s Democratic establishment. As reported on Friday afternoon by amNY.com, Jeffries’ endorsement comes just one day before the start of early voting and provides a powerful boost to the Democratic Socialist’s already ascendant campaign.

Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat and one of the most influential figures in national politics, has often positioned himself as a pragmatic centrist skeptical of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), to which Mamdani belongs. Yet, in his carefully worded statement, Jeffries emphasized that his decision to back Mamdani stemmed from a “deep respect” for the will of Democratic primary voters, who overwhelmingly chose the Queens assemblyman over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in June by a margin of nearly 13 percentage points.

According to the information provided in the amNY.com report, Jeffries cited Mamdani’s focus on the affordability crisis as his central reason for endorsement, describing the issue as the defining challenge of New York City’s future. “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. “Working-class neighborhoods of color have borne the brunt of gentrification and economic exclusion for decades. He has committed to building a city where every New Yorker — regardless of background — can afford to live, work, and raise a family.”

While Jeffries’ support signals a new alignment between the party’s progressive and moderate wings, he was quick to clarify that his endorsement does not erase the ideological differences between them. “We have areas of principled disagreement,” Jeffries admitted, but added that Mamdani’s willingness to engage constructively across those divides was critical in earning his confidence. The Minority Leader noted that the Assemblyman’s readiness to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch in a Mamdani administration represented “the kind of pragmatic approach that the moment requires,” according to the report at amNY.com.

The endorsement is also deeply symbolic for the Democratic Party, coming at a time when national Republicans — led by President Donald Trump — have intensified criticism of New York’s leadership. In his statement, Jeffries urged unity among Democrats, saying, “We must show a united front in the face of attacks from the Trump Administration on New York City. The stakes in this election extend far beyond our five boroughs.”

Mamdani, a 34-year-old Queens assemblyman who has built his campaign around the draconian doctrines of socialism, responded to Jeffries’ endorsement with gratitude and renewed calls for unity. In remarks shared with amNY.com, Mamdani said, “This campaign has always been about bringing people together to improve the quality of life for every New Yorker. I welcome Leader Jeffries’ support and look forward to delivering a city government — and building a Democratic Party — relentlessly committed to our affordability agenda and to fighting Trump’s authoritarianism.”

Jeffries’ endorsement, as noted in the amNY.com report, comes at a pivotal time in the election cycle, with early voting beginning this weekend and polls showing Mamdani holding a double-digit lead over Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo. Political analysts say the timing is strategic, providing the Mamdani campaign with renewed energy and helping consolidate the Democratic base just as voters begin to cast ballots.

The Minority Leader’s support also reflects the Democratic Party’s evolving identity. For months, Jeffries — along with other establishment figures — had resisted pressure to endorse Mamdani, citing discomfort with the DSA’s often combative stance toward Israel, their inherent anti-Semitism and their quest to defund the NYPD. However, Jeffries’ statement made clear that he believes Mamdani is committed to governing for all New Yorkers, including those concerned about issues of public safety and antisemitism.

“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 said.

That line, as the amNY.com report observed, underscores Jeffries’ effort to portray Mamdani as a unifying figure capable of bridging the city’s political and cultural divides. Despite his socialist roots, Mamdani has repeatedly said that his administration would focus on inclusivity and service delivery, not ideology. “We will not build a city of slogans,” Mamdani told supporters last month. “We will build a city that works for everyone — where safety, housing, and dignity are rights, not privileges.”

Still, the endorsement from Jeffries was not inevitable. As amNY.com has reported, Jeffries had been under significant pressure from local Democratic leaders and grassroots organizers to support the party’s nominee, particularly after Governor Kathy Hochul formally endorsed Mamdani in September. Hochul described him as “a leader focused on making New York City more affordable and equitable,” echoing themes that have since become central to the campaign’s messaging.

Jeffries’ hesitation reflected the tension between the party’s moderate establishment and its progressive insurgents, a dynamic that has defined Democratic politics in New York for the better part of a decade. But in the end, as amNY.com report noted, the Brooklyn congressman’s decision to endorse Mamdani suggests an acknowledgment that the party cannot afford internal fractures heading into what promises to be a fiercely contested 2028 presidential election cycle.

The endorsement also puts additional pressure on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has yet to announce his position in the race. According to the report at amNY.com, Schumer has privately expressed concern about some of Mamdani’s past statements on policing and the candidate’s animus towards Israel but has publicly praised Mamdani’s focus on housing affordability and working-class issues.

For Mamdani, the latest endorsement adds to a growing list of high-profile supporters. In addition to Hochul and Jeffries, the candidate has secured the backing of several progressive organizations, including the Working Families Party and several major labor unions. His campaign, according to the report at amNY.com, has been defined by its grassroots energy, with thousands of volunteers canvassing in every borough and a fundraising model that has eschewed large corporate donations in favor of small, individual contributions.

As Jeffries’ statement reverberated across the political landscape on Friday, reaction was swift. Supporters of the congressman praised his decision as a show of political maturity and pragmatism. “Hakeem Jeffries understands that leadership means listening to the voters,” one Democratic strategist told amNY.com. “Whatever his differences with Mamdani, he knows that Democrats must stand together if they want to keep the city moving forward.”

Conservatives, however, quickly seized on the endorsement as proof that the national Democratic Party is moving further to the left. “Jeffries is bending the knee to the socialists,” a spokesperson for the Sliwa campaign said in a statement, accusing the Minority Leader of “betraying working-class New Yorkers by endorsing a radical agenda that will make the city less safe and less affordable.”

Political observers interviewed by amNY.com said that such attacks are unlikely to sway the electorate, noting that Jeffries’ stature within the Democratic Party and his reputation for political discipline will lend Mamdani credibility among centrist voters who may have been wary of his socialist label.

For now, Mamdani’s campaign appears focused on solidifying its lead by emphasizing the themes that propelled him to victory in the primary: affordability, safety, and unity. His campaign’s messaging frames the election as a moral choice between “a city that works for everyone” and “a city that only works for the few.”

“Hakeem Jeffries’ endorsement shows that we are bringing people together across the spectrum,” a senior campaign aide told amNY.com. “This is no longer about labels — it’s about results.”

With less than two weeks until Election Day, the Mamdani campaign enters its final stretch with a wave of institutional backing and the momentum of a party rallying behind its nominee. As the amNY.com report noted, Jeffries’ endorsement may mark not only a turning point in the mayoral race, but a defining moment for the future of Democratic politics in New York City — one in which unity, however uneasy, triumphs over division in the face of a common challenge.