Top New York establishment Dems still withhold Mamdani endorsements

Prominent New York Democrats have declined to endorse NYC mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani even as they now defend him after President Donald Trump threatened to arrest the 33-year-old candidate over his immigration status.

Uncertainties: Over a week after the Democratic primary, most party establishment figures remain reluctant to formally back Mamdani. Sources told the New York Post that Gov. Kathy Hochul “can’t endorse him” because “that’ll be the election” and “she’ll lose Long Island.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has represented Brooklyn since 2013, also declined an endorsement on Sunday, asking Mamdani to clarify his position on the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which many believe is antisemitic. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has represented New York for more than 25 years, has similarly held back his endorsement, though he praised Mamdani for running an “impressive campaign.”

A unified response: Interestingly, the lack of support shifted when Trump began attacking Mamdani the day after the June 24 primary, calling him a “100% Communist Lunatic” and questioning his citizenship status. Mamdani — who was born to Indian parents in Uganda — was naturalized as an U.S. citizen in 2018. Hochul fired back on Tuesday, writing on X, “I don’t care if you’re the President of the United States, if you threaten to unlawfully go after one of our neighbors, you’re picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers — starting with me.” Jeffries also defended Mamdani on Wednesday, writing, “Stop lying about Assemblyman Mamdani. He is neither a communist nor a lunatic,” and criticizing the president’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

Possible benefit? Democratic Rep. George Latimer, whose District 16 includes parts of the Bronx, told CNN that Mamdani’s candidacy will be “tough for front-liners because they’re in districts that have a lot of Republicans” who will try to tie Democrats to his progressive image. However, Democratic strategist Joel Payne told The Hill that establishment resistance might actually benefit Mamdani. “It probably helps that members of the establishment of the Democratic Party are not completely, wholly signed on to what he’s all about because I think it just emphasizes his broader critique of the establishment,” Payne said.