House Democrats Praise NYC Mayoral Nominee Mamdani After Ocasio-Cortez Meeting

Zohran Mamdani, the presumptive Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, has been actively engaging with House Democrats in Washington to build support ahead of the general election. Invited by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani held a breakfast meeting with mainly progressive lawmakers who praised his campaign approach, particularly his focus on affordability and grassroots engagement. While some key New York Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have yet to endorse him, many attendees described the meeting as productive and Mamdani as inspiring. The candidate has faced scrutiny over his progressive policies and his stance on the phrase "globalize the intifada," which he has not used and avoided condemning, but this topic was reportedly not discussed at the meeting. Ocasio-Cortez encouraged skeptics to meet Mamdani in person before making judgments, highlighting the positive reception among those present. Overall, Democratic lawmakers see Mamdani's candidacy as a reflection of the party's shift towards addressing economic concerns and appealing to younger, grassroots voters.