House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) offered praise for Zohran Mamdani after his victory in the Democratic primary on Wednesday, highlighting the New York City mayoral candidate’s focus on affordability while avoiding direct engagement with his socialist platform.
Speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Jeffries commended Mamdani’s campaign for effectively tapping into economic anxiety across the city. He stopped short of endorsing the 33-year-old state assemblyman or embracing his ideology.
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“I think what’s clear is that the relentless focus on affordability had great appeal all across the city of New York,” Jeffries said. “He also clearly out-worked, out-organized, and out-communicated the opposition. And when someone is successful in being able to do all three things at the same time, it’s usually going to work out for them.”
LMAO: Scarborough asks Hakeem Jeffries if Mamdani’s extreme ideology is a model for Democrat candidates in 2026.
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) June 25, 2025
Jeffries’ answer?
Orange Man Bad.
???? pic.twitter.com/jDhEaBL7xq
“Congratulations to Zohran Mamdani on a decisive primary victory,” Jeffries wrote in a post on X. “Assemblyman Mamdani ran a strong campaign that relentlessly focused on the economy and bringing down the high cost of living in New York City.”
Pressed by host Joe Scarborough on whether Mamdani’s ideological views, including his left-wing economic policies and controversial positions on Israel, are ones Jeffries would like to see adopted by other Democrats in 2026, the House Democratic leader redirected the conversation to affordability and criticism of President Donald Trump.
REPUBLICANS SEE OPPORTUNITY IN ZOHRAN MAMDANI NYC MAYORAL PRIMARY WIN
“From the standpoint of House Democrats and what our focus has been, clearly we have an affordability crisis in the United States of America,” Jeffries said. “Our vision is going to be for an affordable America: Work hard, play by the rules, live the good life.”
Jeffries remained carefully noncommittal as Mamdani. His primary win represents a seismic shift in New York politics. His campaign struck a chord with voters frustrated by the city’s soaring cost of living and disillusioned with establishment figures like former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whom Mamdani defeated in a dramatic upset Tuesday night.