Civil War Among Comrades

Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani has voiced his opposition to the candidacy of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), labeling Jeffries a “caricature” of their movement, according to sources.

Mamdani attended a DSA meeting in New York City on Wednesday night, where members were reportedly divided over whether to support City Council member Chi Ose’s campaign. This split indicates potential issues within the group’s unity.

“For decades, leftists have wanted a chance to not just discuss theories but also to put them into practice,” Mamdani said, referencing a popular phrase from basketball legend Allen Iverson.

“The choice isn’t simply whether to vote for Ose or Jeffries; it’s about how we want to spend the upcoming year,” he continued.

“Do we want to defend a caricature of our movement, or focus on advancing a real agenda that aligns with those principles?”

Ose, who represents City Council District 36—covering Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights—has rejoined the DSA after leaving in 2020, a move some members view as opportunistic.

Conversely, others perceive this as a chance to gain traction after the candidate most closely associated with their values won the mayoral race against former Governor John Johnson and Andrew Cuomo in both the primary and general elections.

Some believe this situation echoes progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s unexpected primary win over long-standing Democratic figure Joe Crowley in 2018, especially considering how Crowley initially discounted Jeffries’ challenger.

During the meeting, Ose emphasized his socialist identification by accusing Jeffries of being “an enemy of the socialist movement and the broader left.”

He stated he would run an “issue-based” campaign highlighting Jeffries’ pro-Israel stance, questioning where taxpayer money is allocated, particularly concerning New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) projects.

Ose has expressed his support for future candidates with socialist platforms, while Mamdani has aligned himself more with the mainstream Democrats since his election.

Ose mentioned he had supported Mamdani during the mayoral campaign, which he viewed as a risk, given Cuomo’s popularity among some voters. Notably, Jeffries endorsed his party’s candidate just a week before the election.

“We’ve taken risks together,” Ose remarked. “That’s why we believe we can take this risk together.”

State Senator Jabari Brisport, representing Bed-Stuy, refrained from publicly supporting or opposing Ose but humorously expressed his disdain for Jeffries, drawing laughs from attendees.

Discussions regarding whether the DSA will back Ose are expected to unfold in the coming days.

Representatives for Jeffries did not respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Mamdani pointed to his earlier remarks made at the DSA forum during a press conference, reiterating, “I do not believe this is the right time [to primary Jeffries].”