House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries continues to avoid making a public endorsement in the New York City mayoral race as his self-imposed deadline nears. During a press conference on Friday at the U.S. Capitol, he was constantly questioned about his potential support for Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani. Despite the attention, Jeffries remained vague, stating that he would not reveal his views until shortly before the early voting deadline.
Mamdani, who is currently the frontrunner in the race along with Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, has gained support from progressive figures within Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. However, the top two Democrats on Capitol Hill — Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — have stayed quiet on the matter. Jeffries, in particular, has been questioned multiple times about whether he would endorse Mamdani.
When asked directly if he was ready to commit to Mamdani, Jeffries responded with, ‘Stay tuned,’ indicating that he would reveal his endorsement at a later date. Although he would not be in a position to make a formal endorsement during the press conference due to Capitol rules, the press was told he would do so later that day.
Jeffries also faced questions about whether his refusal to endorse Mamdani was splitting the Democratic Party. He responded by asserting that the party was more united than ever, pointing to upcoming elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and California as evidence of this unity. However, he did not address the situation in New York directly.
It is unclear whether Jeffries will officially back Mamdani or choose another candidate. While some reports suggest that he would make his endorsement in the coming hours, others remain cautious. The silence from top Democrats like Jeffries and Schumer has left some within the party concerned about the lack of leadership on the issue.