New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a prominent socialist, is encountering increasing difficulties in securing the support of top Democratic leaders, including House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has yet to endorse his mayoral bid. The political landscape is shaping up to be highly contested as Mamdani seeks to consolidate his base among New York’s electorate.
Mamdani, who has become a lightning rod for criticism, especially from Republicans, is making preparations for his campaign and is currently in Uganda for family reasons. Jeffries, who is still undecided about endorsing Mamdani, stated that he will meet with the candidate upon his return from the trip, where he will be celebrating his marriage with extended family.
Jeffries’ indecision has raised questions about the future of Mamdani’s campaign. Prior to the trip, Mamdani met with Jeffries in Brooklyn to discuss potential endorsements. Jeffries emphasized that he takes time to consider each endorsement decision, and he will meet with other leaders and community voices in New York to determine the best course of action.
Mamdani, who holds dual U.S. and Ugandan citizenship and was raised in South Africa, has faced a wave of political scrutiny. Recently, he was mocked by prominent figures like former President Donald Trump and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Trump claimed that Cuomo has a ‘good shot’ of beating Mamdani in the mayoral race, while Cuomo made a jibe about the potential of moving to Florida if Mamdani won.
In response to the political jabs, Mamdani has taken to social media, where he humorously suggested a variety of tabloid-style headlines about his upcoming trip, including ‘M.I.A.? Mandani in Africa’ and ‘He’s Kampala-etely Crazy.’ The candidate has also drawn media attention due to his land holdings in Uganda, where he owns four acres of undeveloped property valued at $150,000 to $250,000.