Right on, Jay!
Longtime state Democratic leader Jay Jacobs is staying on as leader next year despite refusing to endorse Zohran Mamdani as party’s nominee for New York City mayor.
“I have work to do. I’m staying on. I have no intention of stepping down,” Jacobs told The Post, alluding to the crucial elections next year, including the race for governor and the midterms for Congress.
“No one has asked me to do [step down],” Jacobs added.
Longtime state Democratic leader Jay Jacobs is staying on as leader next year despite refusing to endorse Zohran Mamdani as party’s nominee for New York City mayor. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Jacobs’ intention to remain the party chairman is sure to provoke backlash from allies of Mamdani and left-wing activists of the party, who’ve been calling for his head for years.
The singular person with the power to ask Jacobs to relinquish the chair role is Gov. Kathy Hochul — the unofficial boss of the state Democratic Party.
Jacobs crossed Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani as the nominee after he defeated ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others in the June Democratic primary. Cuomo ran as an independent in the general election, losing to Mamdani a second time.
Jacobs has been a staunch Hochul ally — at least before their disagreement over the now-mayor-elect.
Jacobs has been a staunch Hochul ally — at least before their disagreement over the Mayor-elect Mamdani (above). James Keivom
He declined to discuss his private conversations with the governor, though it’s hard to believe he would say he’s remaining as chair without an understanding with Hochul.
Jacobs also doubles as the Democratic leader in Nassau County, where Republicans won the key races in November, in part by tying their opponents to democratic socialist Mamdani.
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Thanks for signing up!
In a previous interview, Jacobs emphasized that the Democratic Party is a “big tent.”
“The party is not just a progressive party. We’re a progressive, moderate party,” he said.
Besides ideological differences, Jacobs said he had personal reasons for not endorsing Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel.
“My mom left Nazi Germany in 1939,” he said, noting that unfortunately many of his relatives were killed in the Holocaust.
“I also thought it was important to stand up for Israel.”