House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries continues to withhold his endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York, even after a recent meeting between the two. Mamdani reportedly left the Friday discussion with only the promise of a future meeting, failing to secure the backing of the top-ranking Democrat whose congressional district is part of the city.
Jeffries joins other prominent New York Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul, in refraining from formally backing their party’s candidate. This withholding of support is widely seen as a tactic to pressure Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, to moderate his progressive platform and soften his past criticisms of Israel.
However, despite the lack of backing from some party leaders, Mamdani is widely considered the front-runner in the general election. After a stunning primary victory where he earned more votes than any candidate in New York’s history, Mamdani consistently leads in general election polling. As the official Democratic nominee in an overwhelmingly blue city, his primary win is viewed by many as the de facto election. He ultimately defeated his closest rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, by 12 points in the final round of ranked-choice voting.
Mamdani’s general election opponents further strengthen his position. The field includes both Cuomo and current Mayor Eric Adams running as independents, who are expected to split the vote of New Yorkers seeking an alternative to Mamdani’s progressive politics. With Adams facing low approval ratings and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa considered a long shot, the fractured opposition may prove unable to mount a unified challenge.
Furthermore, Mamdani is not without significant Democratic support. He has secured endorsements from progressive figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and influential city leaders such as Rep. Jerrold Nadler. He is also winning over powerful labor unions, some of which had previously backed Cuomo, as well as local Democratic party organizations.
Ultimately, the refusal by establishment figures to endorse Mamdani may have the unintended effect of bolstering his campaign. For his large base of grassroots supporters, the snub could serve as confirmation of his anti-establishment credentials, reinforcing the very image that propelled him to his decisive primary victory.
Source link
