In an interview with CNN on Nov. 2, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, said that New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani did not represent the future of the Democratic Party nationwide. Jeffries explained that he voted for Mamdani and is endorsing Mamdani to serve as the city’s next mayor, but said that the future of Democratic politics nationally lies with those Democrats currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
His comments established a separation between national Democratic politics and New York City politics at a time when commentators have been questioning the future direction of the entire party following an electoral defeat in 2024. That year’s presidential election marked the first time in 20 years where a Democrat did not win the national popular vote for president.
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“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 in an endorsement of Mamdani, according to The Hill.
Jeffries had withheld his endorsement for months before moving to back Mamdani in the race to become New York City’s next mayor.
