Rep. Hakeem Jeffries says he'll make mayoral endorsement by Saturday

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Oct 23, 2025

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NEW YORK — Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Thursday praised NYC Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani for sticking with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and suggested he’ll make a long-awaited endorsement by Saturday.

Asked about his oft-repeated vow to take sides in the contentious race before early voting starts this weekend, Jeffries said he is sticking to that timetable.

“I look forward to saying much more about the mayor’s race as I promised in advance of that moment,” Jeffries said in an interview on CNN.

“I’m prepared to weigh in ahead of early voting and early voting starts on Saturday,” he added with a smile in a sit down with Bloomberg TV.

Jeffries, who represents a central Brooklyn district, referred to Mamdani as “our Democratic nominee” and has lauded him for focusing on the signature issue of affordability in the race against Republican Curtis Sliwa and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent.

Jeffries also praised Mamdani for agreeing to retain Tisch if he is elected, calling the police commissioner a “highly respected” leader of the NYPD.

The Democratic House Minority Leader has declined to endorse Mamdani for months since the youthful Queens assemblyman trounced Cuomo in the June Democratic primary.

Jeffries has met at least twice with Mamdani, including one sit down that included other Black elected officials and faith leaders.

Mamdani has forged a healthy polling lead over Cuomo with Sliwa trailing. Mayor Adams endorsed Cuomo Thursday, several weeks after he pulled the plug on his own sputtering reelection campaign, but it’s unclear if Adams’ nod will move the political needle.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, who lives a couple of miles away from Jeffries in Brooklyn, has also stalled on making any endorsement in the mayoral race.