House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, endorsed Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor on Friday. In a statement to the New York Times, Jeffries said that “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,” adding, “In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”
The late endorsement from the congressman comes just ahead of the start of early voting on Saturday.
Newsweek has reached out to the offices of Jeffries and Mamdani via email on Friday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
Jeffries’ endorsement of Mamdani signals a significant shift in New York’s Democratic power structure, bridging a months-long divide between establishment leaders and the party’s progressive wing. As the House minority leader and a national figure, Jeffries’ support lends institutional legitimacy to Mamdani’s candidacy and may influence undecided voters ahead of early voting…