NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani and Hakeem Jeffries huddled Friday in the House minority leader’s Brooklyn stomping grounds, their first in-person meeting since Mamdani remade the Democratic political landscape by winning the primary for New York City mayor.
Jeffries gave no signal that he’s ready to endorse Mamdani in the general election. The pair are planning a future meeting with more members of New York’s congressional delegation and community leaders.
The hourlong confab in Jeffries’ district was “constructive, candid and community-centered, with a particular focus on affordability,” according to Jeffries spokesperson Justin Chermol. The pair discussed public safety, antisemitism, gentrification and Democrats’ fight to control the House in 2026, Chermol said.
Jeffries isn’t alone among Democratic leaders in withholding his endorsement for the time being. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul also have yet to formally support Mamdani.
Mamdani and Jeffries spoke after the Democratic mayoral nominee received the endorsement Friday of the 1199SEIU health care workers union, which had backed Andrew Cuomo in the primary.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist and state lawmaker from Queens, trounced the former governor with a more than 12-point victory in the primary. But he will face Cuomo again in the general election as well as incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Jim Walden. Cuomo and Adams are running as independents.
Mamdani also privately met Wednesday morning with Hill Democrats, mostly from the progressive wing of the party, for a meet-and-greet event with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Many of those lawmakers emerged from the meeting praising Mamdani’s focus on cost-of-living issues and said the party could learn from his viral social media strategy.