Hakeem Jeffries Throws Weight Behind Zohran Mamdani for Mayor, Republicans Scramble to Counter
In a last-minute endorsement move, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has publicly backed Zohran Mamdani's mayoral bid in New York City. The Brooklyn representative, who made his long-awaited statement on Friday afternoon, expressed support for the citywide Democratic ticket while acknowledging areas of disagreement with Mamdani.
The endorsement comes as a significant boost to Mamdani's campaign, which has been gaining momentum despite criticisms from Republican lawmakers over his socialist policies. However, it remains unclear how this move will impact the outcome of the election, given that early voting has already begun and voters have largely made up their minds.
Despite the criticism, Jeffries' statement highlights Mamdani's focus on affordability as a key issue in the campaign. The former governor, who is running as an independent in the general election, lost to Mamdani in the primary but remains a contender due to his name recognition and broad appeal.
In response to the endorsement, Republicans have begun to attack Mamdani directly, with Rep. Mike Lawler calling on Democratic lawmakers to renounce their support for the candidate. The Republican lawmaker questioned whether those who endorsed Jeffries also stand behind Mamdani, highlighting potential divisions within the party.
However, experts say that this move is unlikely to sway undecided voters at this late stage in the campaign. Basil Smikle, a Columbia University lecturer and former executive director of the state Democratic Party, believes that Jeffries' endorsement will add to Mamdani's total votes but does not expect it to have a major impact on the final outcome.
Mamdani himself welcomed the endorsement, praising it as a sign of his campaign's strength. His supporters argue that this move demonstrates the growing momentum behind his campaign and underscores his commitment to addressing affordability issues in New York City.
As the election draws near, Mamdani faces an uphill battle against a strong Republican challenger in Curtis Sliwa. While Jeffries' endorsement may provide some comfort to his allies, it remains uncertain whether it will be enough to sway voters who have already made up their minds on the candidate.
In a last-minute endorsement move, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has publicly backed Zohran Mamdani's mayoral bid in New York City. The Brooklyn representative, who made his long-awaited statement on Friday afternoon, expressed support for the citywide Democratic ticket while acknowledging areas of disagreement with Mamdani.
The endorsement comes as a significant boost to Mamdani's campaign, which has been gaining momentum despite criticisms from Republican lawmakers over his socialist policies. However, it remains unclear how this move will impact the outcome of the election, given that early voting has already begun and voters have largely made up their minds.
Despite the criticism, Jeffries' statement highlights Mamdani's focus on affordability as a key issue in the campaign. The former governor, who is running as an independent in the general election, lost to Mamdani in the primary but remains a contender due to his name recognition and broad appeal.
In response to the endorsement, Republicans have begun to attack Mamdani directly, with Rep. Mike Lawler calling on Democratic lawmakers to renounce their support for the candidate. The Republican lawmaker questioned whether those who endorsed Jeffries also stand behind Mamdani, highlighting potential divisions within the party.
However, experts say that this move is unlikely to sway undecided voters at this late stage in the campaign. Basil Smikle, a Columbia University lecturer and former executive director of the state Democratic Party, believes that Jeffries' endorsement will add to Mamdani's total votes but does not expect it to have a major impact on the final outcome.
Mamdani himself welcomed the endorsement, praising it as a sign of his campaign's strength. His supporters argue that this move demonstrates the growing momentum behind his campaign and underscores his commitment to addressing affordability issues in New York City.
As the election draws near, Mamdani faces an uphill battle against a strong Republican challenger in Curtis Sliwa. While Jeffries' endorsement may provide some comfort to his allies, it remains uncertain whether it will be enough to sway voters who have already made up their minds on the candidate.
this is wild that hakeem jeffries threw his weight behind zohran mamdani for mayor, i mean its clear he's trying to help him out but like what even are the rep's gonna do now? attack him directly? thats just gonna make them look extra desperate lol 
anywayz mamdani's stance on affordability is straight fire 
and idk about the other candidate curtis sliwa but he aint got nothing on zohran
. And now Hakeem Jeffries just throws his weight behind him? That's pretty interesting, but I still don't see how it's gonna make a difference at this point in the election 
. The people have already made up their minds, right? It feels like we're just seeing a bunch of politicians trying to justify their own stances on social media 
. Can someone please tell me what's really going on here? 
HE'S LIKE A BIG NAME IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS AND IT SHOULD BE HELPFUL FOR MAMDANI'S CAMPAIGN. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WONDER IF PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE JEFFRIES SAID SO AND NOT REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIS POLICIES. 
Mamdani's socialist policies are gonna tank the city's economy, mark my words 
and what really grinds my gears is that Republicans are trying to spin this as a party split 
And what's up with this idea that Democrats are divided on Mamdani? That just doesn't add up... or does it? 
Anyway, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out 
. On the one hand, Mamdani's focus on affordability is really important, but on the other hand, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "taxes are too high"? 
. But, at the same time, Jeffries' statement highlights Mamdani's focus on affordability, which is a pretty big deal for NYC voters 
. Will it be enough to sway undecided voters or just add to Mamdani's total votes? Only time will tell 
!
. But let's get real, affordability is such a big deal for NY City folks, and if Mamdani can really deliver on that front, he might just have a shot 
. The question is, will it be enough to sway those who've already made up their minds? It feels like a late-game hopper 
at this point. Still, 100% positive vibes for Zohran and his crew - we'll see what the people of NYC want! 
... but hey, who am I to question the motives of a high-ranking politician? Anyway, I suppose this does show that Mamdani has some name recognition on his side. But let's be real, he still has a long way to go if he wants to win over undecided voters 