7:07House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is featured on ABC News’ “This Week” on Oct. 19, 2025.ABC News
The House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, has yet to publicly back New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the current leading candidate in the New York City mayoral contest with the election approaching in just under three weeks, though he mentions he intends to "share further thoughts regarding the mayoral election" in the week ahead.
"I anticipate a discussion with him sometime this week before early voting commences, which will begin the following weekend in New York City. We will certainly offer further commentary on the mayoral campaign and our Democratic nominee leading up to the start of early voting," Jeffries communicated to Jonathan Karl, the co-anchor of ABC News' "This Week."
"We engaged in constructive dialogues during the past few months prior to the government shutdown, which were future-oriented, locally focused, and particularly concerned with his endeavors to improve the affordability of New York City," Jeffries stated, addressing why he hadn’t yet provided an official endorsement. "That is absolutely the correct priority. It’s the reason he convincingly secured victory in the primary. And I anticipate continuing that discussion in the upcoming week."
Jeffries also addressed the persisting government shutdown, now at its 19th day, stressing that Republicans must engage in negotiations and forge a bipartisan understanding with Democrats.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appears on ABC News’ “This Week” on Oct. 19, 2025.ABC News
"We have consistently conveyed, through both public and private channels, to our counterparts on the other side of the aisle that we are prepared to meet with them at any moment, in any location, with anyone, be it at the Capitol or back at the Oval Office, in order to reopen the government, identify a cooperative route toward enacting a spending agreement that genuinely betters the standard of living for the American population, while concurrently and decisively resolving the Republican health care predicament," Jeffries communicated.
In response to Senate Majority Leader John Thune's proposition to hold a vote on prolonging ACA health care subsidies if the government is reopened beforehand, Jeffries refuted the notion of voting to extend the budget briefly without a wider agreement.
"I believe our position has been that we will not endorse a partisan Republican spending measure, which constitutes the legislation they continue to present before the Senate, and which originated in the House, should that legislation undermine the health care of the American populace," Jeffries stated. "There have been votes concerning Affordable Care Act tax credits within both the House and the Senate throughout the year. And Republicans have persistently voted against prolonging those tax credits, prioritizing George Santos’ freedom over ensuring health care accessibility for ordinary Americans."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
