Dem
47
GOP
53
Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani very much wants the endorsement of Democratic leaders. While he is the favorite in the November election, Mayor Eric Adams and former NY governor Andrew Cuomo will be on the ballot, and Cuomo is expected to get tens of millions of dollars from Bill Ackman, who thinks Mamdani would be a disaster for the city. Cuomo will have far more money than Mamdani, so Mamdani thinks it is critical that he gets the entire Democratic establishment behind him. After all, Democratic leaders could yet endorse Cuomo. The election is first past the post, so in a multiway race, if Cuomo can get to 40%, that might be enough.
On Friday, Mamdani met House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in Brooklyn. Mamdani was desperately hoping to get Jeffries' endorsement. It didn't happen. An hour after the meeting began, Mamdani left, and all he had to show for it was a promise of a future meeting with Jeffries. For his part, Jeffries said he didn't know Mamdani that well and was interested in knowing him better in the future. He also wanted to know what Mamdani meant when he said he will not condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada." Many people interpret that to mean the destruction of the state of Israel. Jeffries is not going anywhere near there.
Jeffries is fully aware that the Republicans are already trying to turn Mamdani into the face of the Democratic Party. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) isn't the leader anymore and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) is pretty, extremely politically astute, very articulate, and not very scary. She does not make nearly as good a boogeyman as a guy with a beard, a strange name, and who is an avowed socialist. She isn't the foil the Republicans hoped she would be. Enter Mamdani. Jeffries does not want to be tied too close to him. Besides, he probably is afraid Mamdani is not capable of governing New York City and would make a mess of it whereas Cuomo, although personally a sleazebag and a mean old b*stard, is a competent administrator who got a lot done as governor. So Jeffries is keeping his powder dry for the moment. He might end up not endorsing at all and letting the chips fall where they may. (V)