New York House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Mayor Zohran Mamdani has “work to do” with congressional Democrats after two candidates endorsed by the mayor defeated incumbent House Democrats in Tuesday’s Democratic primaries.
Jeffries had publicly opposed Mamdani’s endorsements of former campaign organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier and former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, while Lander unseated Rep. Dan Goldman.
Speaking to CNN, Jeffries said he had “strongly” disagreed with Mamdani’s endorsements before Election Day. He said the mayor now has “work to do in terms of the conversations that he’s going to have with members of Congress moving forward.”
Mamdani responded Wednesday during an appearance in the Bronx, saying New Yorkers were “hungry for a new kind of politics.” He added that “working people should be at the heart” of elected officials’ platforms and said he looked forward to speaking with Jeffries later that day.
Jeffries later thanked Espaillat and Goldman for their service, saying each Democratic primary should “be judged on its own merits.” The exchange followed a primary night that reshaped parts of New York’s Democratic congressional delegation.
Democratic Voters Debate Jeffries’ Response to Mamdani’s Primary Influence
Jeffries’ comments quickly sparked debate online, with many users criticizing his response to the primary results while others argued his remarks reflected the realities of congressional politics.
One user wrote, “This guy has negative leadership abilities. Real ‘it’s the voters who are wrong’ energy.” Another argued, “Exactly, classic center Dems not reading the room on what the party base wants.” A separate response questioned, “Does Jeffries think Mamdani’s endorsement alone swung all of these races?” Another added, “Trump got re-elected on YOUR watch, Hakeem.”
Others pushed back on the criticism. One user wrote, “The context is mamdani as mayor probably swayed quite a few votes in his endorsements.” Another argued, “When a mayor gets involved – they become part of it.”
The discussion continued as users debated how much Mamdani’s endorsements influenced the races and what the results could mean for Democratic leadership ahead of future elections.
