House Democrats met with New York Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani over breakfast on Wednesday morning, as the self-proclaimed socialist seeks to replace Mayor Eric Adams as the next leader of the city.
Mamdani traveled to Capitol Hill at the invitation of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to meet with Democrats to shore up party support, with many Democrats leaving the gathering praising the party nominee for the high-profile contest.
He came to Washington with many key Democratic leaders still undecided about supporting him. Fellow New Yorkers such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have yet to endorse Mamdani.
Ocasio-Cortez told reporters Wednesday afternoon that Mamdani was “very generous” about sharing his insight on ways to campaign and “level up our games in terms of technique.”
Mamdani handily defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the primary — a victory for the progressive bloc, as many of its younger and grassroots voters are demanding a change to the status quo after the 2024 election.
Many Democratic lawmakers and strategists attributed Mamdani’s win to his ability to speak directly to people’s concerns, such as the economy and cost of living, two areas in which Democrats have been struggling to connect with voters.
Ocasio-Cortez’s message to her fellow New Yorkers and the skeptics was simple: “Get to know him.”
“And once you get into a room with him, kick the tires yourself and make your own assessment, instead of just kind of making assessments from what you may see on television,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “If you have the ability to meet someone in person, you should meet them before you judge him.”
She said she thinks many of the Democrats who showed up to the breakfast were there “in good faith” and were open to listening to Mamdani, calling it “really productive.”
Mostly progressive Democrats attended the meeting and echoed Ocasio-Cortez’s sentiments while leaving the breakfast at the AC Hotel in Washington’s Navy Yard neighborhood, less than 1 mile from the Capitol.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chairwoman emerita of the Progressive Caucus, told reporters it was a “fantastic” meeting.
“Zohran Mamdani is an incredible talent,” Jayapal said.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), who endorsed Mamdani in the primary, said it was great to see someone “so authentic.”
“Money cannot buy that,” Velázquez said, adding that they had a “great conversation.”
House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-CA) said Mamdani got an “energetic and welcoming reception” at the breakfast.
“Huge thanks to [Ocasio-Cortez] for organizing the breakfast,” Garcia wrote on X. “Proud of our Democratic nominee for NYC Mayor. Let’s win!”
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), who chairs the House Democrats’ communications committee, said Mamdani is a “very personable, smart young man.”
“I hope we’re not going to have a lot of circling firing squads,” Dingell added.
Not all progressive members met with Mamdani. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), ranking member of the Rules Committee and a Progressive Caucus member, said he did not know about the breakfast and did not attend.
“I wish I would have gone,” McGovern told the Washington Examiner.
Despite not attending the meeting, McGovern called Mamdani “bright” and “articulate.”
Mamdani has “excited a lot of young people. … He’s talking about issues my constituents care about,” McGovern said. “Again, I’m from Massachusetts, but I think people should get behind the Democratic nominee.”
Jeffries is scheduled to meet with Mamdani on Friday in Brooklyn, the Washington Examiner confirmed. He told Punchbowl News on Monday that Mamdani needs to reassure Jewish New Yorkers that he would prioritize their safety.
Republicans have blasted Mamdani as the new face of the Democratic Party, particularly as the socialist has not condemned the phrase “globalize the intifada.” Republicans have homed in on this as part of their messaging that the Democratic Party has moved too far left.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), one of the state’s most prominent Jewish leaders who has endorsed Mamdani, said leaving the Wednesday breakfast that no one asked Mamdani about that phrase.
The House Democratic leader told Punchbowl News that Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the phrase will “be part of our discussion.”
“With respect to the Jewish communities that I represent, I think our nominee is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in antisemitism in the city of New York, which has been an unacceptable development,” Jeffries said in an interview with MSNBC earlier this month.
Progressive Democrats have largely brushed off what they believe is fearmongering that the race in New York is representative of the entire party. Many have argued that it is just one mayoral seat among thousands across the United States, and while Democrats can learn from Mamdani’s style, it may not fit their districts.
“He did a great job in doing that in a way that’s authentic to him,” Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) previously told the Washington Examiner, adding, “What he did is not going to make sense for everybody.”
Mamdani is not likely to sway centrist New Yorkers to his cause, such as Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY), who has previously called him “too extreme to lead New York City.” Gillen’s office confirmed to the Washington Examiner that she did not attend the breakfast.
But gaining endorsements from leaders such as Jeffries and Schumer will be critical. Mamdani faces Adams, who is running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in the November race. Cuomo is also running as an independent.
A split Democratic Party could help Republicans as they work to try to turn the mayoral seat red for the first time since Michael Bloomberg was elected in 2002, but the seat is unlikely to flip.
‘GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA’: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PHRASE MAMDANI WON’T CONDEMN
A HarrisX poll released Tuesday found Mamdani statistically tied with Cuomo and Silwa in a four-way race. In a head-to-head matchup, Cuomo defeated Mamdani by 15 points, though the survey was conducted before Cuomo announced his independent bid.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Mamdani for comment.