Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 30, 2025. Now New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaking to the media during a campaign event on November 1, 2025, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. ( Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Jeffries was also asked whether he is personally comfortable having the city he represents, the most populous city in America, be run by a socialist.
In response, Jeffries simply answered that Mamdani "is the mayor-elect of the City of New York," saying, "It's incumbent upon everyone to make sure that he’s successful."
Although Mamdani was quickly endorsed by some of the country’s most progressive leaders, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., the Democratic Party’s top leadership was slower to give their blessing. Jeffries himself did not answer whether he would be endorsing Mamdani until just before early voting began on Oct. 24. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., never issued an endorsement of Mamdani. However, he called his electoral victory "historic."
Mamdani, who is a 34-year-old immigrant from Uganda, is the first Muslim mayor of New York City.
WILL ELECTION DAY 2025 BE REMEMBERED AS THE RISE OF THE SOCIALISTS?
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., right, update reporters following their face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
"We're going to take back control of the United States House of Representatives. So, let's be very clear about that," he said. "Based on the environment that we know exists, which, as Democrats, we’ve been telling you for the last several months, is the reality, but now it's been confirmed by the American people."
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He also praised the passage of a California redistricting proposition, which was backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying it will further help Democrats retake the House.
"Stay tuned because more is coming," he said. "Republicans are going to be unable to gerrymander their way into rigging the midterm elections. That scheme is over. Buried dead in the ground. And so, we're going to take back control of the House and fight for every inch of territory."
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hakeem-jeffries-dodges-question-whether-mamdani-future-democratic-party