On the eve of early voting in New York City’s fiercely contested mayoral race, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries cast a decisive vote of confidence in Zohran Mamdani, the progressive state assemblyman whose candidacy has both electrified and divided the Democratic Party. Jeffries’s endorsement, announced late Friday, October 25, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in a campaign that has become a battleground for the soul of the city’s—and perhaps the nation’s—Democratic politics.
Jeffries, a Brooklyn congressman and one of the most influential Black political figures in the city, praised Mamdani’s relentless focus on tackling New York’s affordability crisis and his explicit commitment to serve "all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy." According to a statement released by Jeffries and reported by Gothamist, he emphasized, “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.”
With early voting set to begin on October 26, Jeffries’s endorsement comes at a critical juncture. The Democratic leader acknowledged "principled disagreements" with Mamdani—who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America—but underscored the importance of party unity in the face of what he called an "existential" struggle against Republican extremism and the lingering influence of former President Donald Trump. "The communities I represent in Brooklyn are being devastated by this extreme version of the Republican Party," Jeffries said, stressing the need for Democrats to push back against what he described as a "national nightmare."
Mamdani, for his part, welcomed Jeffries’s support as validation of his campaign’s mission "to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas." In a statement provided to The New York Times, Mamdani said, “This campaign has always been about bringing people together to improve the quality of life for every New Yorker. Our movement to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas grows stronger by the day.”
Jeffries’s endorsement was not a foregone conclusion. Sources close to the congressman told The New York Times that he delayed his decision for weeks, partly due to the ongoing government shutdown and partly because of intense debate within Democratic circles. The endorsement also came a day after New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who ended his own reelection bid last month, gave his backing to former Governor Andrew Cuomo—a one-time rival with whom Adams had previously traded barbs. In a surprising twist, Adams and Cuomo appeared together at a Knicks game on October 22, signaling a reconciliation and a united front against Mamdani’s surging campaign.
Cuomo, running as a third-party candidate after losing the Democratic primary, reportedly tried to persuade Jeffries to withhold his endorsement from Mamdani, but those efforts were unsuccessful. The result is a mayoral contest that pits Mamdani, representing the city’s progressive wing, against Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in what promises to be a closely watched general election on November 4.
Despite the show of unity from some quarters, Mamdani’s candidacy has sparked fierce opposition from both Republicans and moderate Democrats. Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, for example, criticized Democratic support for what he called Mamdani’s "socialist policies," questioning whether his colleagues stood with "hardworking New Yorkers who want safe streets, affordable communities and sanity back in government." According to Gothamist, Lawler’s comments reflect a broader Republican strategy to paint Mamdani as out of step with mainstream voters.
The criticism has not been limited to partisan attacks. Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi has publicly expressed doubts about Mamdani’s suitability for the mayoralty, warning that his platform could jeopardize the party’s standing with moderate voters. Meanwhile, on the national stage, former President Donald Trump has cheered Mamdani’s rise, calling him a "communist lunatic" and suggesting that his candidacy will benefit Republicans in New York and beyond.
Adding fuel to the fire, House Republicans Randy Fine (R-Fla.) and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) have called on the Justice Department to investigate Mamdani’s path to U.S. citizenship, alleging that he may have made false statements during his naturalization process in 2018. Fine demanded a review of every naturalization over the past 30 years, starting with Mamdani. Ogles accused Mamdani of concealing his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America and of making statements in support of the "Holy Land Five," a group convicted of funneling money to Hamas. Ogles wrote to the Justice Department in June, urging them to "Deport Mamdani!" and labeling him "an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York." Mamdani has denied being a communist, and the Justice Department, led by AG Pam Bondi, has received the letter but has not commented on any investigation.
The attacks have grown more personal in recent weeks. Mamdani posted a photo with controversial imam Siraj Wahhaj, who was named as an un-indicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. This move drew further criticism from Republican lawmakers, though Mamdani did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Despite the controversy, Mamdani’s campaign continues to gain momentum, buoyed by recent endorsements not just from Jeffries but also from Governor Kathy Hochul and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. Mamdani, 34, has sought to moderate his image in recent weeks, apologizing for past remarks about the police, clarifying his stance on Israel, and pledging to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected—a move that Jeffries specifically praised as "the approach that this moment requires." Jeffries stressed Mamdani’s promise to keep all New Yorkers safe, including the Jewish community, which has faced a rise in antisemitic incidents, as well as Black and Latino neighborhoods that have battled deadly gun violence for years.
With early voting underway and the general election set for November 4, the city’s Democratic establishment appears, at least for now, to be rallying around Mamdani in the name of party unity. Yet with high-profile endorsements and bitter attacks coming from all sides, the outcome remains uncertain—and the stakes, according to many observers, have rarely been higher for the future direction of New York City politics.
As the mayoral race enters its final stretch, voters now face a stark choice between competing visions for the city’s future, with Zohran Mamdani at the center of a contest that has become as much about the identity of the Democratic Party as it is about the leadership of New York itself.
