Democratic commentator Kaivan Shroff has urged House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to avoid endorsing Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race, citing potential risks for the Democratic Party. Shroff, a former Clinton campaign strategist, argues that endorsing Mamdani now would signal weakness and give Republicans an opportunity to label moderate Democrats as ‘communists’ as the 2026 midterms approach. With Mamdani leading in the latest Fox News poll by 21 points, Shroff emphasizes that a late endorsement would likely do little to influence the outcome and instead harm the party’s broader strategy.
Shroff highlighted the potential political fallout, noting that endorsing Mamdani could shift the Democratic Party further left, alienating moderate voters who are critical of his progressive policies. He also pointed out that Mamdani’s ambitious campaign promises, including raising taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers, may be unrealistic without state approval, raising questions about the feasibility of his agenda. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has consistently criticized Mamdani as a ‘100% Communist Lunatic,’ a label that Shroff believes Republicans will exploit to paint Democrats as far-left.
Despite securing the Democratic nomination in June, Mamdani has yet to receive endorsements from key figures like Jeffries and Schumer, who have instead focused on maintaining a cautious approach. Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, finally endorsed Mamdani last month after initially withholding support. However, even with Hochul’s backing, Mamdani faces challenges in implementing his policies without broader state-level support. As the election approaches, the race remains a focal point for national political dynamics, with implications for the 2026 midterms and the future direction of the Democratic Party.