Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer holds massive amounts of power within his party. And now he’s drawing a line in the sand.
Because Chuck Schumer sank a fellow Democrat’s campaign with one stunning omission.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer is tiptoeing around Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, and it’s not hard to see why. On CNN’s State of the Union, Schumer played coy, mumbling about a “good relationship” and a recent meeting with Mamdani.
“All I can tell you is that I am going to continue talking to him,” he said, flashing a grin when pressed on whether endorsing Mamdani’s democratic socialism might tank the Democrats’ national image. Schumer’s dodge speaks volumes—he’s clearly spooked by the idea of tying himself to Mamdani’s far-left agenda, which could alienate voters and jeopardize the party’s Senate hopes.
Mamdani’s June primary win fired up the progressive crowd, who are fed up with the establishment. But his ideas—free child care, free buses, jacked-up taxes on the wealthy, and city-run grocery stores—are a tough sell for anyone who values fiscal sanity.
Schumer’s hesitation suggests he knows Mamdani’s platform could be a political anchor, dragging Democrats down in swing districts where common sense still matters.
Mamdani’s Policies Stir Party Unease
Mamdani’s primary victory was a loud cheer for the left, but he’s struggling to win over the Democratic elite. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both New Yorkers, are keeping their distance, wary of Mamdani’s radical streak. Insiders say the party fears his policies could make Democrats look like out-of-touch ideologues.
Republicans are already having a field day, painting Mamdani as the poster child for a party gone off the deep end. President Trump’s team is betting that Mamdani’s socialist wishlist will scare off voters outside NYC’s liberal bubble—and they’re probably right.
Then there’s Mamdani’s stance on Israel, which has raised red flags even among Democrats. His criticism of the war against Hamas in Gaza and his refusal to condemn the inflammatory “globalize the intifada” slogan—seen by many as a dog whistle for violence against Jews—aren’t exactly winning hearts.
New York State Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs flat-out rejected Mamdani, saying he agrees with affordability goals but not the half-baked plan to get there. It’s a sign Democrats are nervous about being tethered to a candidate who could tank their broader appeal.
Hochul’s Risky Bet in a Crowded Race
Despite the party’s cold feet, Gov. Kathy Hochul, facing her own re-election next year, threw her support behind Mamdani after weeks of waffling.
She’s bought into his talk of a safer, more affordable city for families, saying, “Mr. Mamdani and I will both be fearless in confronting the president’s extreme agenda—with urgency, conviction and the defiance that defines New York.”
Her jab at Trump—“we must never allow Mr. Trump to control our city like the king he wants to be”—sounds bold, but it’s a gamble. Aligning with Mamdani’s radical vision could haunt her when voters outside the city weigh in.
Mamdani’s ahead in a messy mayoral race against Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both running as independents, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder.
His progressive base is energized, but Schumer’s reluctance shows the Democrats’ top dogs aren’t sold. With Mamdani’s policies looking like a blueprint for fiscal chaos and political backlash, it’s no wonder the party’s old guard is keeping him at arm’s length.
