House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) revealed on Monday that he is preparing to meet with Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, next week after continuing to withhold his endorsement of the socialist candidate.
Mamdani won the Democratic nomination last week, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others in the party’s primary election determined by ranked choice voting.
Jeffries cited Mamdani’s focus on affordability for his successful primary campaign.
“I’m scheduled to meet with him next week, and we’ll have a conversation about his vision,” he said on ABC’s The View. “He did run a campaign that was actually focused largely on affordability, and that was the right issue to focus on because New York City is too expensive. America right now is too expensive.”
Mamdani’s campaign promises include freezing rent, raising property taxes on “richer and whiter” neighborhoods, establishing government-run grocery stores, and providing free child care.
Jeffries’s announcement fueled speculation that he may endorse Mamdani despite repeatedly holding back in interviews. The House Democrat previously suggested he wouldn’t back the primary victor without a “substantive conversation” about his vision for New York City.
While Jeffries is looking forward to speaking with Mamdani, the two have their political differences, particularly over their views on Israel’s war in Gaza.
Mamdani has faced criticism for supporting the movement to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel and defending the anti-Israel slogan “globalize the intifada.”
Jeffries, who supports Israel, said the phrase was not acceptable and urged Mamdani to “clarify his position” on the words. Jeffries added that the New York State assemblyman must “aggressively address the rise in antisemitism in the city of New York” if he is elected come November.
Despite their differences, Jeffries defended Mamdani against criticism from President Donald Trump, who called the nominee a “Communist Lunatic” who will “destroy” New York City.
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“Stop lying about Assemblyman Mamdani,” Jeffries posted on X last week. “He is neither a communist nor a lunatic. And New York City doesn’t need to be saved by a wannabe King. Besides, you are too busy destroying America with your One Big Ugly Bill to do anything else.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY), and other leading Democrats from New York have also not yet endorsed Mamdani following his primary victory.