Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Zohran Mamdani within the race for New York Metropolis mayor Friday, someday earlier than polls open citywide for early voting.
“I deeply respect the desire of the first voters and the younger individuals who have been impressed to take part within the electoral course of. Zohran Mamdani has relentlessly centered on addressing the affordability disaster and explicitly dedicated to being a Mayor for all New Yorkers, together with those that don’t help his candidacy,” Jeffries’ assertion mentioned. “In that spirit, I help him and your entire citywide Democratic ticket within the common election.”
Jeffries’ backing is the most recent present of help for the Democratic assemblyman from Queens and frontrunner in the polls.
Mamdani had been in search of the highly effective Brooklyn Democrat’s endorsement because the two met over the summer.
“This marketing campaign has at all times been about bringing individuals collectively to enhance the standard of life for each New Yorker. I welcome Chief Jeffries’ help and sit up for delivering a metropolis authorities, and constructing a Democratic Occasion, relentlessly dedicated to our affordability agenda — and to preventing Trump’s authoritarianism. Our motion to show the web page on the politics of massive cash and small concepts grows stronger by the day,” Mamdani mentioned in a press release from his marketing campaign.
Earlier Friday, when requested why he had not but endorsed Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, and its potential influence on the Democratic occasion, Jeffries mentioned, “I’ve not refused to endorse. I’ve refused to articulate my place, and I’ll momentarily sooner or later upfront of early voting.”
Jeffries additionally endorsed Democrats Mark Levine and Jumaane Williams for metropolis comptroller and public advocate, respectively.
“When Congressman Jeffries offers his endorsement, it means an ideal deal to the assemblyman’s marketing campaign proper earlier than early voting. So I by no means thought he was going to take the danger,” political analyst J.C. Polanco mentioned.
Republicans are already signaling they are going to seemingly make Jeffries’ endorsement future marketing campaign materials.
“He’s endorsing probably the most radically excessive candidate for mayor within the historical past of america of America,” Republican Rep. Mike Lawler mentioned.
Mamdani’s opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, picked up a key endorsement of his personal Thursday from outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. The mayor ended his reelection campaign last month and has been an outspoken critic of Mamdani’s policies.
“Andrew and I are two youngsters from New York, and when you consider it, Andrew and his brother, and I’ve three of them, and brothers struggle,” Adams mentioned Thursday. “However when households are attacked, brothers come collectively. They perceive that it’s important to defend the household.
Adams’ endorsement got here a day after the candidates faced off in their final debate earlier than Election Day. Cuomo was seen becoming a member of the mayor courtside on the New York Knicks’ residence opener after the controversy.
Mamdani advertisements nixed by the Knicks
The Knicks, in the meantime, are attempting to keep away from the looks of an endorsement.
The crew despatched Mamdani’s marketing campaign a cease-and-desist letter over an advert that depicted a modified model of crew’s brand that changed the phrase “Knicks” with “Zohran.”
“The Knicks wish to make it clear that we don’t endorse Mr. Mamdani for mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted brand,” a Knicks spokesperson advised CBS Information in a press release, including, “We’ll pursue all authorized cures to implement our rights.”
Key endorsements within the NYC mayoral election, thus far
Mamdani beforehand earned two high-profile endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez within the Democratic main. He was additionally cross-endorsed by some of his fellow candidates in ranked choice voting.
Since his main win, the state Assemblyman has additionally picked up endorsements from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Attorney General Letitia James, state Senate Majority Chief Andrea Stewart-Cousins, state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and several other different elected officers.
He’s additionally being backed by the Working Households Occasion and the United Federation of Teachers, which is town’s largest academics union.
Cuomo, in the meantime, acquired an endorsement from former New York Metropolis Mayor Michael Bloomberg during the primary. Jim Walden additionally threw his help behind Cuomo when he left the race over the summer, hoping to help defeat Mamdani. The United Clergy Coalition can also be supporting Cuomo.
Republican Curtis Sliwa is endorsed by Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler, in addition to former New York Metropolis Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
