Republicans work to make Zohran Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party

Republicans are working to tie Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist running for New York mayor, to the entire Democratic Party ahead of the midterm elections next year.

WASHINGTON — Top Republicans on Monday seized on House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ endorsement of Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York, casting the self-described democratic socialist as the new face of the Democratic Party ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called Jeffries’ endorsement a “seismic shift in politics.”

“We saw our clearest sign yet that this radical insurgent movement in the Democrat Party is succeeding, and they are ending what has always been known as the Democrat Party in America,” Johnson told reporters in the Capitol. “After a monthslong pressure campaign from the far left, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries finally relented. He gave in, and he gave his endorsement to the socialist running to be mayor of New York City.”

The fresh comments are an attempt by GOP leaders to tie all congressional Democrats to Mamdani, hoping to paint the party as too far left heading into next November’s House and Senate elections. The popular Muslim American state assemblyman has energized the progressive base, but his calls to raise taxes on the wealthy and support for Palestinians have drawn fire from Republicans and some moderate Democrats.

Polls show Zohran Mamdani has commanding lead in NYC mayoral race01:45“The House Democrats have chosen a side they were forced to by that far left that they’re so terrified of,” the speaker said Monday. “And they’ve shown the world what they really believe. There is no longer a place for centrist and moderates in their party.”