Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Friday stated Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani wants to succeed in out to a “broader electorate” to assist earn his pivotal endorsement within the November basic election.
The Democrat Home minority chief praised Mamdani for his thumping major win over ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying he “out-organized” his opponents by specializing in the essential situation of affordability.
However Jeffries, who represents central Brooklyn, stated the progressive Queens assemblyman nonetheless must flesh out a few of his proposals.
“He’s going to have to demonstrate to a broader electorate, including in many of the neighborhoods that I represent in Brooklyn, that his ideas can actually be put into reality,” Jeffries stated. “That’s the conversation he’s having with me and with community leaders.”
Jeffries refused to again Mamdani on the difficulty of the rent-stabilized condominium he lives in, which Cuomo has sought to make political hay over.
“It’s a legitimate issue that has been raised, and the Mamdani campaign is gonna have to address it,” Jeffries advised CNBC host Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Jeffries additionally didn’t appropriate Sorkin when the anchor repeatedly falsely claimed Mamdani lives in a “rent-controlled apartment.”
Lease management and lease stabilization are two very completely different packages, as any New York lawmaker ought to know.
Simply over 20,000 flats are coated by lease management, which solely applies to tenants who’ve lived in the identical condominium since 1971 and sometimes include cut price basement rents. They account for lower than 1 p.c of New York Metropolis flats.
Lease stabilization, however, consists of about 1 million models within the 5 boroughs. Rents are typically a bit decrease than market charges and this system principally restricts landlords from elevating rents greater than a certain quantity every time the lease is renewed.
There are not any revenue restrictions for tenants in lease stabilized flats, which means Mamdani isn’t bending any guidelines by residing in a $2,300-a-month Astoria pad together with his spouse. He makes $143,000 a 12 months as a state assemblyman.
Jeffries didn’t make an endorsement within the mayoral major.
He held what he referred to as a “candid and constructive” face-to-face assembly with Mamdani final month and stated the 2 deliberate to comply with up with extra conferences with fellow members of Congress and group leaders, particularly in low-income and dealing class Brooklyn neighborhoods.
“That meeting is still being put together,” Jeffries stated.
Mamdani faces Cuomo and incumbent Eric Adams, each of whom are operating as independents, together with Republican Curtis Sliwa within the basic election.
He has racked up a number of endorsements of mainstream metropolis Democratic leaders since defeating Cuomo him to grow to be the occasion’s standard-bearer.
Mamdani has spent all week barnstorming the town for a “Five Boroughs Against Trump” tour.
Earlier Friday, he wrapped up the hassle with a cease in Richmond Hill, Queens, the place picked up the backing of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who stayed impartial within the major battle.
However Jeffries and the state’s two different prime Democrats, Gov. Hochul and Sen. Chuck Schumer, have to this point declined to again him.
Initially Printed: August 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM EDT
