This story was produced as part of a partnership between THE CITY and NOTUS, a publication from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani met with Democratic members of Congress in Washington on Wednesday morning, as several members of the caucus have expressed reservations about his rise in the party.
The gathering, a breakfast hosted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the restaurant Ama just south of the Capitol, was advertised as an organizing workshop for members. Lawmakers told reporters they also saw the meeting as an opportunity for Mamdani to allay outstanding concerns.
The initial readouts were positive.
New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, who endorsed Mamdani after his primary win, told reporters while leaving the meeting he thinks the candidate won over several Democrats who previously had concerns. Nadler coordinated a meeting this week between Mamdani and Jewish elected officials.
At the same time, lawmakers said there were hardly any discussions about the hot-topic issues, like Israel-Palestine, that moderate Democrats have cited as a barrier to endorsing the New York state assemblyman for the mayoral seat. Mamdani’s views on the phrase “globalize the intifada” didn’t come up, Rep. Andre Carson said.
“But it was a very uplifting conversation,” Carson said, adding that Mamdani is “a smart man” and will “do what he needs to do” when it comes to allaying concerns about his rhetoric.
New York Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who endorsed Mamdani as part of a three-way candidate slate in the primary election, told reporters she expects more of her colleagues to endorse Mamdani after the meeting. “We are Democrats,” she said when asked why she thinks that’s the case. Velázquez told NOTUS this week that she wants party members to unite over supporting the candidate.
Mamdani’s supporters in the Congressional Progressive Caucus also touted the state assemblyman’s campaign and his political success.
“We’re thrilled he’s bringing the party together at this point,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal told reporters. “Anybody who can see the reality of the success of his candidacy and his campaign, anybody that’s staying out at this point instead of endorsing this incredible dynamic leader is missing an opportunity.”
Jayapal added that she thought Mamdani won over some of her more hesitant colleagues because of his authenticity and the working-class-focused policy proposals he discussed at the meeting.
“I think it’s hard not to be won over,” she said.
Notably missing from the meeting were some of the Democrats whom Mamdani hasn’t won over. Rep. Ritchie Torres’ office confirmed that the New York Democrat didn’t attend, and NOTUS didn’t spot Rep. Dan Goldman or House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries entering or leaving the restaurant.
While those members have called out racist and Islamophobic comments against Mamdani — and have appeared with or met with the state assemblyman, or, in Jeffries’ case, are set to meet with him this week — they have stopped short of endorsing him.
Jeffries, Goldman and Torres are among a group of congressional Democrats who have expressed concerns about Mamdani’s stance on the “globalize the intifada” phrase and his left-wing policy positions.
In a meeting with business leaders Tuesday, Mamdani said he wouldn’t use the expression and that he would “discourage” others from using it.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who is among the Democrats who have decried Mamdani’s rhetoric, was one of the few Mamdani critics at the meeting.
In a statement to NOTUS after the meeting, Gottheimer sounded clearly unconvinced by Mamdani’s platform, though he subtly acknowledged the state assemblyman’s ability to reach an electorate.
“I don’t think higher taxes, anti-job creating socialism and an acceptance of antisemitic rhetoric is the right direction for America. That said, I am always open to learning how I can reach more people with my commonsense, problem-solving approach,” he said.
Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez, who left through a back entrance, according to an Ocasio-Cortez staffer, also did not speak to reporters. But multiple Democrats told reporters that the gathering was focused primarily on discussing campaign strategy, not Democrats’ disagreements with Mamdani.
“He shared a lot of tips and tricks of getting your message out via social media,” Carson said.
Rep. Mark Takano said that while Israel-Palestine rhetoric was not on the agenda, Mamdani did address some other concerns among members.
“I had some questions about his association with democratic socialism,” Takano said, adding that he left the meeting satisfied with an explanation from Ocasio-Cortez and other Mamdani supporters about why many younger voters gravitated toward Mamdani’s left-wing policy positions.
“I think if you look past all of the labels people are trying to impose on him, I think that’s what’s refreshing about him and his direct messaging. … I think Democrats need to be talking about how we’re going to lower costs,” he continued.
Other members suggested that despite productive discussions on economic policy and the party’s future, Wednesday’s meeting did not alleviate all the existing tensions among Democrats.
“We are a party that has a big tent,” Rep. Debbie Dingell said after the meeting. “I hope we’re not going to have a lot of circular firing squads.”
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