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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby Mary Spiller <\/a><\/p>\n October 25, 2025<\/p>\n After months of speculation, the House Democratic leader throws his support behind Mamdani, urging the party to unite against Trump\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents New York\u2019s 8th congressional district, has endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, marking a pivotal moment in a race that has divided Democrats and tested party unity.<\/p>\n Jeffries, one of the city\u2019s most influential Black political figures, has often been critical of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which Mamdani is a member. Yet in a statement to The New York Times, Jeffries said<\/a> that while the two have \u201careas of principled disagreement,\u201d Mamdani earned his place as the nominee through a \u201cfree and fair\u201d primary.<\/p>\n \u201cZohran Mamdani has relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy,\u201d Jeffries said. <\/p>\n \u201cIn that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.\u201d<\/p>\n The endorsement, announced just before early voting begins, follows weeks of internal debate. Sources close to Jeffries said he delayed his decision due to the ongoing government shutdown. His backing represents another major win for Mamdani, who has recently secured endorsements from Gov. Kathy Hochul and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.<\/p>\n For Jeffries, the decision balances competing pressures from within his party. Some Democrats view Mamdani\u2019s rise as proof that progressive energy can carry elections, while others worry his policies will become fodder for Republican attacks in the upcoming midterms.<\/p>\n Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman, welcomed the endorsement as validation of his campaign\u2019s mission \u201cto turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeffries\u2019s decision also undercuts former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as a third-party candidate after losing the Democratic primary. Cuomo\u2019s team reportedly tried to persuade Jeffries to withhold his endorsement, but those efforts were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n In recent weeks, Mamdani has sought to moderate his image, apologizing for past remarks about the police and clarifying his stance on Israel. He also pledged to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected \u2014 a move Jeffries praised as \u201cthe approach that this moment requires.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAssemblyman Mamdani has promised to focus on keeping every New Yorker safe, including the Jewish community that has confronted a startling rise in antisemitic incidents as well as Black and Latino neighborhoods that have battled deadly gun violence for years,\u201d Jeffries said.<\/p>\n With polls showing Mamdani leading as Election Day nears, Jeffries\u2019s endorsement may signal a broader shift: a Democratic establishment willing, at least for now, to embrace the party\u2019s left wing in the name of unity.<\/p>\n However, Mamdani\u2019s popularity has sparked adversity.<\/p>\n