Hakeem Jeffries endorses Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor

[SocialDemocrat61]

Hakeem Jeffries endorses Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor
By Alexandra Marquez and Ryan Nobles
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday endorsed the Democratic nominee in the New York City mayoral race, Zohran Mamdani.

Despite their “areas of principled disagreement ... Zohran 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,” Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement to The New York Times on Friday.

“In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election,” Jeffries added.

The endorsement comes after Jeffries has dodged questions about whether he’d endorse Mamdani since the state assemblyman surprised his party in June when he won the Democratic nomination for mayor outright, beating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo has since launched an independent campaign for mayor, hoping to beat Mamdani and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in next month’s general election.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/hakeem-jeffries-endorses-zohran-mamdani-new-york-city-mayor-rcna239614

Of course, we need to remember the people who this hurts, entitled white leftists who like to play the victim and now have been deprived of one of their favorite talking points.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. It's about time, Jeffries. Mamdani IS the correct choice for the Mayor of New York. n/t

[SocialDemocrat61]

2. In 21, Hochul and Schumer didn't endorse Adams until 10/28

Major endorsements are usually made closer to voting for greater impact.

[gab13by13]

3. Hey DNC need more like Mamdani.

[SocialDemocrat61]

6. Depends on where

Abigail Spanberger is running for Governor of Virginia. Mamdani wouldn't have a chance in that race. And Spanberger wouldn't stand a chance running for Mayor of NYC.

[W_HAMILTON]

12. Not to mention the DNC ain't handpicking candidates for these sorts of races to begin with.

The silly notion of this almighty and all powerful DNC stems from conspiracy theories pushed by losing candidates to explain away their failure to connect with core Democratic constituencies.

[SocialDemocrat61]

13. I think there are

300 or 400 members of the DNC. They don’t all work in lockstep. They’re main job is coordinating fundraising and some messaging and planning the convention every 4 years. They are not some all powerful monolith.

[Intractable]

4. I'm sure Jeffries decided that it's best to back he who is destined to be the winner.

[Cha]

18. lol.. "...sure..",, huh... well that settles it..

Who cares Why... it's a good endorsement.

[Quiet Em]

5. The timing of the endorsement is perfect

We start early voting tomorrow in New York State.

[rogue emissary]

7. Mamdani is ahead in the polls and going to win.

Don't see why this is such a big deal. It's fine for Mamdani not to support Democrats. It should be fine for Jeffries.

[Nanjeanne]

8. It's never too late although it could have been sooner. Anyway, it's a good thing.

[SocialDemocrat61]

21. Actually the timing is great

This totally eclipses Adams endorsement of Cuomo yesterday.

[mr715]

27. Ehhhhh....

I kinda would want the Adams endorsement to last like the kiss of death

[betsuni]

9. Oh no! Teh Establishment's slacking off again, supposed to be TERRIFIED of and stop at nothing to thwart Mamdani.

[W_HAMILTON]

10. For anyone that knows how politics works and isn't neck deep in conspiracy theories...

...this was entirely expected.

All the hoopla from a certain segment of the left was just performative -- and unnecessary -- bluster.

PS - Jeffries has now shown more support for Mamdani than he did the last Democratic candidate for NYC mayor.

[SocialDemocrat61]

11. True

Major endorsements are usually made closer to voting for more impact. In 21 Hochul and Schumer didn’t endorse Adams until 10/28.

[betsuni]

14. Happens a lot. Rule of no benefit of the doubt, assume the worst, assume bad motivations, corruption, stupidity.

Quickly filling comment sections with anger and disgust, those horrible Dems, they're not getting another dime out of me, threats.

[Nixie]

32. Momdani must have a clue about the timing of endorsements since he

refused to endorse Hochul even though she endorsed him. So he seems to have a strategy of his own.

[Buddyzbuddy]

15. Way to give a late, half assed endorsement.

Cuomo and Sliwa left, what were you waiting for? The debates? Walking backward at the end of the parade and claims he's leading. Do better, please.
A lot of people are counting on you.

[W_HAMILTON]

16. He was waiting for early voting to begin, when his endorsement would have the most significance.

Jeffries endorsing Mamdani the second he won the nomination might have made you and the others on the left that think like you feel better, but it would have already been forgotten about and would have made little impact on the actual vote.

PS - It's not like this segment of the left is winning races left and right, and this sentiment you express here is part of the reason why. It's like some try to alienate as many voters/constituencies as possible and then wonder why they lose -- or worse, conjure up conspiracy theories for their losses.

PPS - Jeffries has now shown more support for Mamdani than he did the last Democratic candidate for NYC major.

[Buddyzbuddy]

17. I might have "heard what you were saying with an open mind

until you decided to make it personal against us.

"PS - It's not like this segment of the left is winning races left and right, and this sentiment you express here is part of the reason why."

I'm so glad you think you have it all figured out. Wow, now we know. Genius, just genius.

No need to respond, you have the privilege of being the first person I disignate as "ignore"

[W_HAMILTON]

19. Who is us?

I consider myself a progressive and I think this segment of self-proclaimed progressives are doing a disservice to progressivism because not only are they trying to exclude as many people as possible (when it's not like we are winning election after election to begin with), their shortsighted actions often result in the complete OPPOSITE of progress being made.

[Cha]

20. No Hakeem Jeffries did NOT give a "half assed

endorsement" as you assert.

[Buddyzbuddy]

22. As soon as he won the primary he should've given his full throated support, in my opinion.

The options were Adams, Cuomo, and Sliwa, or no endorsement. I have a few ideas as to why he didn't and one at the top of my list. I'm getting pretty f*cking tired of walking on eggshells about it. I understand there are some sensitive issues that I'm empathetic to. I respect most contributors here on DU, but I'll be damned if I'm keeping my mouth shut about this. Mamdani has absolutely no effect on my life, but he does share many of the views I espouse and value. So yes, I feel strongly that our leadership is doing anything but leading.
Too bad for the centrists here that Cuomo couldn't behave himself. After his failed race to the bottom, I guess he'll have to find a new trough to feed from.

[SocialDemocrat61]

24. I've never seen a local mayor's race

where people were so focused on endorsements. It’s just another purity test which is the last thing democrats need right now. And now that Jeffries endorsed Mamdani the goal posts have been moved to “he should have done it sooner”, a whole new purity test. Bad enough republicans attack democrats, but attacking other democrats for such petty bs only helps republicans.

[AZProgressive]

26. I have seen a lot of mocking of those who would wish Jeffries have done it sooner

Or didn't think he would at all.

I think he waited until it was a complete forgone conclusion Mamdani would win or maybe Cuomo was too toxic based on his last debate performance. Either way I remember 4 years ago in Buffalo though Schumer did endorse Walton at the last minute the state Democratic Party didn't really support the Democratic Socialist that won the Democratic Primary. I remember one state party official compared her election victory to a hypothetical of David Duke winning a primary.

It is good that Jeffries is endorsing Mamdani but I think in general the Democratic Party in New York sets a bad example for the rest of the country by constantly fear mongering about the progressives or Democratic Socialists and often run third party campaigns when they lose the primary. There is the purity test from the other direction.

[SocialDemocrat61]

29. Buffalo is irrelevant

Just as most endorsements are irrelevant. What is relevant is ICE kidnapping children off the streets. What is relevant is republicans shutting down the government because they want to strip healthcare from millions of people. What is relevant is republicans literally praising Nazis. But too many are too focused on their petty bs purity tests which gave us Bush in 2000, Trump in 16 and again last year. No candidate or political party is ever going to be perfect. What plays in one district or town or city or state doesn’t play in another. To believe in democracy you have to accept compromise and that you’re never going to get everything you want or as quickly as you want it.
Yesterday Jeffries was a villain because he hadn’t endorsed Mamdani. Today he is a villain because he didn’t do it sooner. It seems some are just looking for excuses to demonize Jeffries and then play the victim because they didn’t get everything they want.

[SunImp]

31. A few years ago when AOC didn't say she was going to endorse President Biden

Many Duers commenting/liking this topic trashed AOC pretty badly. I guess to them she didn't deserve time or the benefit of the doubt.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142929044
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216791761

[Buddyzbuddy]

28. I personally have been consistent, period.

I'm too stubborn not to be. I believe in lead or get out of the way. The party establishment seems to want to maintain the status quo. Nope, it's not working. The other side has chosen an emperor and given him all encompassing unlimited powers.
This is not a test, not a game. I'm so glad there are serious minds here. I would like nothing better than seeing our current leaders succeed. It doesn't have to be my way but it does have to be decisive. They must lead without hesitation not by what polls well or who's willing to pay better, but by what's the best way forward for the majority of us.
We, as a party have been playing catch-up for too long. It's an opportunity to lead and the status quo is a losing proposition. The establishment fears losing control. Control of what? We have to win to control anything.
You (collectively) are under the impression my remarks are strictly criticism, on the contrary, I state again and again, do better, assuming they will. I'm just one voter with a strong opinion. You don't have to like my opinion but if you wish it to be stifled, then you're no better than the other side who wants to squash freedom of speech.
If it makes you feel any better, I have serious issues with my 2 CA Democratic Senators voting in anyway that legitimizes crypto. But, I agree with more of the policies they choose to back than I disagree with so they get my vote.
It is my right and my duty to voice my concerns with any politician as I see fit.

I don't object to a difference of opinion and I'm not too proud to change my opinion when approached respectfully with convincing information to the contrary. And I have no problem apologizing when I may have stepped on toes. Hell, it's in my profile. Like many here, my patience is non existent and my rage lies just below the surface.
You guys can keep defending anybody you choose and I will keep hoping for good leadership. I will say this, I wouldn't want their job.

[SocialDemocrat61]

30. Attacking Jeffries one day because

he hadn’t endorsed Mamdani to then turn around the next day and attack him for not doing it sooner is not being consistent. It just looking for an excuse to attack Jeffries. Just another silly purity test that has given us Trump twice.
Being part of a political party is being part of a team and there is no I in team. And no team wins attacking it’s own because they don’t meet some personal expectation of perfection.

[Cha]

33. THANK YOU, For Explaining That

So Well.

It makes me literally sick to my heart. .. It's only our Democracy We're Fighting FOR.

All Hands On Deck.. No Room or Time for Purity Tests.

Hakeem Jeffries is a brilliant Leader for Dems... There's no Reason to Bash him on Democratic Underground.

[Cha]

25. NO. I Thank Hakeem Jeffries for Endorsing NOW. nt.

[mr715]

23. About time.

Thank you Leader Jeffries.

Democrats rock.