The Reluctant Endorsement: Why Hakeem Jeffries Isn’t Supporting Zohran Mamdani Yet

State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani beat former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for mayor. This was a huge surprise that shook up New York’s political scene.  Mamdani’s election, which was fueled by grassroots support and an unabashedly progressive platform, showed that the city’s voters were changing, but not everyone in the Democratic elite is happy about it.

A Movement Candidate with Big Ideas

Mamdani, a former housing counselor and democratic socialist, ran on a broad platform that included free public transportation, city-run food shops, rent freezes, universal daycare, and raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030.  He won because of the work of young people, social media, and support from big-name politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders.  The MSNBC opinion piece makes the point that the primary race was more than just a political war; it was a fight over the future of the Democratic Party.

Party Leaders Are Silent

But even after Mamdani’s big triumph, leading Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have been careful.  Even though the two met recently, Jeffries didn’t go so far as to endorse him.  Political insiders say that moderates are worried about Mamdani’s views on international issues and the way he talks about them without holding back.

Mamdani needs the same base that helped him win the primary to help him win the general election, as he doesn’t have any support from powerful Democrats.  We’ll have to wait and see if that’s enough, but one thing is clear: the party is at a crossroads.

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