NYC Mayor's Race: Hakeem Jeffries endorses Zohran Mamdani months after Democratic primary | amNewYork

"The Brooklyn Democrat, who has frequently criticized the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which Mamdani is a member, issued a statement Friday afternoon announcing his support of the Mamdani campaign, stating that he deeply respects the will of the primary voters. He cited Mamdani's commitment to addressing the city's affordability crisis as his primary reason for supporting the nominee."

"Jeffries had faced pressure to endorse Mamdani after the Queens Assembly convincingly defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo by almost 13 percentage points in the June primary, but had frequently declined to endorse a candidate ahead of Friday's announcement. The House Minority Leader acknowledged that he had areas of principled disagreement with Mamdani but emphasized the Democratic nominee's commitment to serving as a mayor for all New Yorkers."

"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 wrote in a statement issued on Oct. 24. Jeffries said working-class neighborhoods of color had been hurt by gentrification for decades, and said Mamdani has committed to building a city where all residents can afford to live."

Hakeem Jeffries publicly endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor, citing respect for primary voters and Mamdani's focus on affordability. Jeffries has previously criticized the DSA but said he respects the nominee's commitment to address the city's affordability crisis and to serve all New Yorkers. Jeffries acknowledged principled disagreements but praised Mamdani's willingness to keep Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, framing it as the necessary approach. Jeffries emphasized protecting working-class neighborhoods of color harmed by gentrification and highlighted Mamdani's promise to keep every New Yorker safe, including Jewish communities facing antisemitic incidents and Black and Latino neighborhoods confronting gun violence.

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