The Marxist-like democratic socialism of New York mayoral primary nominee Zohran Mamdani is proving to be a tough sell even in deep-blue New York and within the Democrat establishment.
After a ballyhooed Friday meeting with Mamdani, even House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has yet to commit to endorsing the Democrat who ran away with a victory over Andrew Cuomo in a low-turnout June primary.
The lack of Jeffries' immediate endorsement has some progressives and democratic socialists threatening primary challenges to Jeffries and other tepid Democrats, Axios reported.
That attack threat has Jeffries' adviser rebuking "Team Gentrification" efforts, and senior adviser André Richardson told CNN that threats to challenge the House Democrat leader would "be forceful and unrelenting."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is Jewish, met with Mamdani, 33, last week, which brought some progress on the antisemitism claims aimed at Mamdani, who vowed to at least "discourage" the antisemitic "globalize the intifada" talk even if he has refused to condemn it.
It is unclear of Jeffries' lack of endorsement, but business leaders in New York City expressed tepid interest in donating to Mamdani's campaign over his Marxist support in statements in years past.
Mamdani has talked about rent freezing for New York housing, while increasing taxes, opening city-owned grocery stores, along with criticism of corporations and policing. Those policies have "freaked out many Democrats close to the party's political center," Axios reported.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.