House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is facing mounting pressure from his progressive members over his refusal to endorse Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race, Axios has learned.
What began as a local political issue has now spilled into national Democratic politics, raising questions about Jeffries’ leadership and the future direction of the party. One progressive House Democrat, speaking anonymously said the matter has “real potential” to damage Jeffries’ ties with progressives.
“It makes some of us … wonder: Is this a leader that truly represents me, or will this leader discard me when people think I’m too progressive?” the lawmaker said. Mamdani, who secured the Democratic nomination for mayor in June, has been a source of unease for establishment Democrats both in New York and Washington. A self-identified democratic socialist, Mamdani has criticized Israel and advanced proposals such as free city buses, government-run grocery stores, and a rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments.
Centrists including Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) have withheld their support ahead of the November 4 election. But others in the party have embraced Mamdani, including Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who recently endorsed him.
Mamdani’s ties to the progressive wing continue to deepen. He attended a Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC retreat last weekend, where he was “extremely well-received and stayed to interact with members for several hours,” according to one lawmaker who was present. Another progressive member said Mamdani emphasized “how we need to, as Democrats, push our own party.”
Despite multiple meetings with Mamdani, Jeffries has consistently sidestepped questions about an endorsement. “I’ll have more to say about the mayor’s race when I have more to say about the mayor’s race,” he told reporters Monday.
His hesitation has drawn criticism. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have publicly urged him to back Mamdani, with Ocasio-Cortez telling Axios on Tuesday that the answer was “Yes” when asked if it was time. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) added, “I’ll let leadership make their own calls, but I myself have” endorsed Mamdani.
“We just can’t keep saying we have to stand with our Democratic nominees and then make exceptions when we think they’re left of us. It’s just inconsistent and hypocritical,” one House Democrat told Axios. Another progressive put the level of frustration at “100% … in Congress and across the country.” A senior progressive confirmed the issue “came up multiple times” during the CPC PAC retreat.
Moderates argue Jeffries’ concerns are broader than his Brooklyn district. “Republicans will wrap Mamdani’s philosophies and statements around … any Democrat that has a chance of upsetting a Republican seat or holding onto a tight seat,” one centrist said. “I think Jeffries is thinking about the majority.”
Another Democrat added: “His job is to worry about the national implications of winning back the Congress, and [Mamdani] would hurt our chances in swing districts.”
