Top NY Dem Defends Saying ‘NO’ When Asked If Mamdani is the Future of the Democratic Party

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) defended and doubled down on saying that he does not view Zohran Mamdani as the future of the Democratic Party during a Monday presser on Capitol Hill.

CNN’s Manu Raju asked Jeffries, “Please speak to progressives who are disappointed in your slow embrace of Zohran Mamdani, and yesterday saying you do not believe he’s the future of the party.”

“What I indicated is that I truly believe, as many of us do, that Donald Trump represents an existential threat to everything. That in order for us to get from where we are to where we need to go and end the national nightmare, House Democrats are going to have to be successful in taking back control of the House of Representatives,” Jeffries replied, suggesting he does not view Mamdani as helpful come the midterm elections.

“What about the slow embrace of Mamdani?” Raju pressed.

“I issued the statement on the eve of early voting, and the statement speaks for itself,” Jeffries added.

On Sunday, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Jeffries, “You’ve already cast your ballot for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Do you see Mamdani as the future of the Democratic Party?”

He replied, “No, I think the future of the Democratic Party is going to fall, as far as we’re concerned, relative to the House Democratic Caucus and members who are doing great work all across the country.” Jeffries endorsed Mamdani in October, saying, “Zohran Mamdani has relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy.”

Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.