House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday declined to endorse Mayor Eric Adams or any other candidate in the 2025 New York City Democratic primary.
While Jeffries committed to supporting the eventual Democratic nominee, he avoided voicing support for Adams’ reelection bid, according to the New York Daily News.
“That’s in the hands of the people of the great city of New York,” Jeffries said during a Capitol Hill press conference. The Brooklyn lawmaker emphasized his focus on ensuring a Democratic victory in the general election, emphasizing his neutrality in the contentious primary race, the paper said.
Jeffries’ decision marks a shift from 2021, when he backed Maya Wiley in the Democratic primary. The current race is hotly contested, as many city leaders are running, including city Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer already vying to challenge Adams. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is also rumored to be considering a bid for mayor.
Adams’ political future has been clouded by federal corruption charges, with a trial set for April. While Jeffries avoided calls for Adams to resign, some Democrats have expressed concerns about the mayor’s ability to lead while under indictment, the Daily News said.
Criticism of Adams has intensified following comments that appeared to signal a willingness to return to the Republican Party, according to the Spectrum News New York 1.
The mayor, during an interview on the network on Friday, said he was "part of the American party" and did not rule out a party switch. Adams was a registered Republican from April 1995 to November 2002, when he enrolled in the Democratic Party, according to the city Board of Elections.
