Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani speaks during an interview on "The Story with Martha MacCallum" at Fox News on Oct. 15, 2025, in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
"Mamdani is certainly on track to win this election without the endorsement," Shroff said. "It sort of gives a weapon to Republicans across the country as we head into the 2026 midterms to label Democrats that are much more moderate, which most are, as democratic socialists or communists, as Trump mislabels Mamdani."
SCHUMER PRESSED BY CNN ON DELAY IN ENDORSING MAMDANI, REASON FOR HOLDUP IN OFFERING SUPPORT
Since Mamdani secured the Democratic nomination, President Donald Trump has labeled him a "100% Communist Lunatic" and "My little Communist." Mamdani has rejected that moniker, affirming that he is a democratic socialist.
Shroff, who worked on former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, said there is more risk for Jeffries and Schumer to endorse Mamdani "with pretty much zero upside."
"I think that would actually be an interesting headline and a good narrative story for Democrats to have across the country that they didn't get behind a democratic socialist," Shroff said.
After months of dodging reporters' questions about when to expect an endorsement, Jeffries confirmed this week that he would finally weigh in on the New York City mayoral race before the first day of early voting, which begins this Saturday, Oct. 25.
Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a press conference in Manhattan, Feb. 20, 2025. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
Mamdani plans to pay for his ambitious campaign agenda, which includes fast and free buses, free child care and city-run grocery stores, by raising taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers.
Any tax hike would require state approval, and Hochul has made it clear she won't raise taxes, igniting questions about the feasibility of Mamdani's campaign promises.
Shroff recently said in a Real Clear Politics commentary that Schumer and Jeffries shouldn't "take the bait" on endorsing Mamdani.
"You're going to have Republicans labeling everyone far-left because of Mamdani," Shroff said. "The whole country is going to be watching New York City because this has been a hotly contested, very interesting race, and he's going to be failing, frankly, the minute he takes office because a lot of the funding to do what he says won't be possible."
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Shroff, who was also a 2024 DNC delegate, said endorsing Mamdani now would only push the party to the left and if Mamdani cannot deliver on his campaign promises, "the moderates are going to be the ones that lose."
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani, Jeffries and Schumer but did not immediately receive a response.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/clinton-campaign-alum-urges-jeffries-schumer-not-take-bait-get-bullied-mamdani-endorsement