Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both representing New York, extended their congratulations to Zohran Mamdani for his unexpected win in the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City. However, they have yet to officially endorse him as their party’s likely candidate.
Schumer shared his past collaborations with Mamdani, highlighting their efforts in providing debt relief to taxi drivers and opposing a gas plant in Astoria. He praised Mamdani’s campaign for resonating with New Yorkers on issues of affordability, fairness, and opportunity. Schumer mentioned he had a conversation with Mamdani earlier that day and expressed eagerness to meet soon.
Jeffries also said that he spoke with Mamdani on Wednesday morning and that they plan to meet in Central Brooklyn “shortly.”
Jeffries echoed the sentiments, congratulating Mamdani on his significant primary win. He acknowledged the assemblyman’s campaign for its strong focus on economic issues and addressing the high cost of living in New York City.
Neither Schumer nor Jeffries endorsed in the race.
Mamdani declared victory early Wednesday morning after coming out of primary night with a commanding lead over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who conceded late Tuesday. Mamdani, a 33-year-old member of the Democratic Socialists of America, was seen as the progressive, outsider in the race. Cuomo was considered the establishment candidate and was the favorite since he announced his candidacy in March.
The House and Senate Republican campaign arms were quick to tie Jeffries and Schumer to Mamdani on Wednesday.
“Every single Democrat now owns Mamdani’s radical socialist agenda to defund police, abolish prisons & stop ICE from deporting criminals,” the National Republican Congressional Committee said in a post on X.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) accused Schumer, who is Jewish, of supporting “a socialist who doesn’t believe Israel should exist as a Jewish state and wants to ‘globalize the intifada’” in its own post on the platform.
