New York City’s mayoral race has taken a dramatic turn as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, one of the nation’s most prominent Democrats, officially endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist and current frontrunner in the contest. With early voting underway and Election Day just over a week away, Jeffries’ nod brings new momentum to Mamdani’s already energetic campaign—but also sharpens the focus on the tensions and skepticism that have marked this unusual race.
Jeffries, whose Brooklyn congressional district borders much of Queens, praised Mamdani’s commitment to addressing New York’s affordability crisis and his pledge to serve all New Yorkers, even those who may not support him. “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 a statement released Friday, as reported by The New York Times and Fox News. In his endorsement, Jeffries added, “In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”
Jeffries’ endorsement comes on the heels of Governor Kathy Hochul’s public support for Mamdani in late September, and it follows endorsements from top Democratic leaders in the New York State legislature. The timing is critical: early voting began on October 25, 2025, and Mamdani has maintained a commanding double-digit lead over his main rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to the latest public opinion polls cited by Fox News.
Mamdani’s campaign has been anything but conventional. At 33, the Ugandan-born assemblyman from Queens has positioned himself as a champion for the city’s working-class residents, vowing to “lower the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers.” His platform includes eliminating bus fares, making CUNY tuition-free, freezing municipal housing rents, offering free childcare for children up to age five, and establishing city-run grocery stores. These proposals have energized a massive grassroots army, particularly among younger, highly educated, and higher-income voters, and have earned him support from progressive icons like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
But the story isn’t all about surging momentum and progressive hope. As Politico and The New York Times have reported, there’s a notable disconnect between Mamdani’s rhetoric and the voting patterns of the city’s working-class communities, especially in the Bronx. While Mamdani’s affordability message has broad appeal, the very voters it targets have been the most skeptical. In the Democratic primary held on June 24, 2025, Mamdani won about 36% of the vote in the Bronx, a respectable showing but not enough to claim dominance in neighborhoods that heavily favored Cuomo.
On the ground in the Bronx, skepticism is palpable. Residents like Dann Divine, a 25-year Bronx veteran originally from Ghana, question the feasibility and sustainability of Mamdani’s ambitious promises. “We have to know why it’s free,” Divine told a reporter, “because sometimes free is expensive.” He expressed doubts that fare-free buses, universal childcare, or rent freezes would truly solve the city’s affordability issues, warning that such policies might come with hidden costs or trade-offs. Divine also drew a parallel between American socialism and the failed promises of the Soviet Union, reflecting the lived experiences of many immigrants in the Bronx, where over 30 percent of residents were born outside the United States.
Public safety remains another sticking point. Pedro Rodriguez, another Bronx resident, voiced concerns about “crime on the subways,” despite NYPD data showing a 13 percent decrease in transit crime compared to pre-pandemic levels. Mamdani, who previously called to “defund the police,” has since walked back those statements and pledged to keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in place—a move meant to reassure anxious voters. But for many, doubts linger. As Divine put it, “Public safety can’t be addressed through ideology.”
Other residents, like Nel Raif, who works for the MTA, worry that eliminating bus fares could “hurt jobs” and undermine transit funding. “A lot of people here are skeptical about socialism,” Raif said, pointing to Mamdani’s lack of experience and the historical failures of socialist policies. Jason Torres, echoing these concerns, remarked, “Politicians know how to run a good campaign, but then they just sit in office.” He questioned Mamdani’s morals and the authenticity of his promises, a sentiment shared by several disengaged voters who have grown alienated from city politics altogether.
Despite these challenges, Mamdani’s campaign has managed to unite much of the city’s Democratic establishment. His victory in the Democratic primary was a political earthquake, toppling Cuomo and nine other candidates, and making him the first Muslim and first millennial mayoral nominee in New York City history, as noted by Fox News. If elected, he would break new ground for the city’s leadership.
Yet, not all Democrats are on board. State Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs has declined to endorse Mamdani, as has Rep. Tom Suozzi, whose district includes a sliver of Queens. Meanwhile, Republicans have seized on Jeffries’ endorsement, arguing that it signals a capitulation to the party’s far-left wing. “Every single Democrat owns the socialist agenda and is now a willing accomplice in their own party’s collapse,” National Republican Congressional Committee press secretary Mike Marinella declared to Fox News Digital. President Donald Trump, never one to shy away from controversy, labeled Mamdani “my little communist mayor” in a recent interview, underscoring the national attention this race has attracted.
Current mayor Eric Adams, who dropped out of the race after deciding to run as an independent, has since endorsed Cuomo, despite their previous clashes. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, co-founder of the Guardian Angels, remains a distant third in the polls, struggling to gain traction in the heavily Democratic city.
Mamdani’s response to the latest wave of endorsements was characteristically inclusive. “This campaign has always been about bringing people together to improve the quality of life for every New Yorker,” he said in a statement Friday. “I welcome Leader Jeffries’ support and look forward to delivering a city government, and building a Democratic Party, relentlessly committed to our affordability agenda—and to fighting Trump’s authoritarianism. Our movement to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas grows stronger by the day.”
As the city heads into the final stretch of the campaign, the question remains whether Mamdani can broaden his coalition and win over the working-class voters who have so far remained wary. With the city’s top Democrats now firmly in his corner and a grassroots movement that shows no signs of slowing, the stage is set for a historic showdown at the polls. Whoever emerges victorious will inherit a city grappling with profound challenges—and the hopes and doubts of millions of New Yorkers.
