by Centrist Democrat discovers queer progressives exist
In a move political analysts are calling “impressively late and potentially queer,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries finally endorsed openly queer progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign on Fridaythree days before the election and approximately six months after every LGBTQ+ organization in New York begged him to. The endorsement, which Jeffries described as “timely,” came after Mamdani had spent months campaigning without institutional support while the party establishment pretended he didn’t exist.
“I’m proud to endorse Zohran Mamdani,” Jeffries announced at a sparsely attended press conference that felt like a hostage video directed by centrist consultants. “His vision for New York aligns with our party’s values, which I’ve conveniently remembered now that polls show him winning. Also, I just learned he’s queer, which our focus groups say matters to voters we’ve been ignoring. Very exciting.”
Mamdani, a democratic socialist state assembly member known for housing advocacy and being one of few openly queer South Asian politicians, graciously accepted the endorsement while probably screaming internally. “I appreciate Leader Jeffries’s support,” Mamdani said with the diplomatic smile of someone who knows this endorsement is useless but can’t say that publicly. “Better six months late than never, I suppose. Although ‘never’ was looking pretty likely until Tuesday’s polling data.”
Political observers note that Jeffries’s hesitation reflects the Democratic establishment’s ongoing discomfort with progressive candidates generally and queer progressive candidates specifically. “Hakeem would rather endorse a sentient spreadsheet with moderate views than support a gay socialist who wants affordable housing,” said political analyst Dr. Maria Santos. “This endorsement isn’t about supporting Mamdani. It’s about Hakeem not looking completely useless when Mamdani wins anyway and everyone remembers the establishment abandoned him for being too progressive and too visibly queer.”
The timing has sparked criticism across the political spectrum. LGBTQ+ activists pointed out that Jeffries’s endorsement arrives after most early voting concluded, rendering it “symbolically useless and politically transparent.” “This is classic establishment behavior,” noted Stonewall Democrats organizer James Chen. “Wait until a queer candidate has basically won despite your obstruction, then pretend you supported them all along. It’s like showing up to Pride in July and expecting credit. Bestie, we saw you. We know what you did.”
Centrist Democrats are annoyed Jeffries endorsed at all. “Why support someone who actually wants systemic change?” wondered an anonymous consultant who’s never won an election but continues billing $500/hour. “Doesn’t Zohran know politics is about maintaining donor relationships and pretending to care about working people while actively undermining them? And he’s gay AND socialist? That’s too many identities for our conservative branding strategy.”
Mamdani’s campaign responded with a statement reading: “We welcome all support, regardless of timing, sincerity, or whether it comes from people who spent six months ignoring us.” The statement was accompanied by a GIF of someone checking their watch with the caption “establishment solidarity arrives fashionably late.” Campaign staff later claimed the GIF was “accidentally included,” though it remains pinned to their Twitter.
Jeffries’s office insisted the endorsement was “always planned for this exact moment” and “definitely not a panic response to internal polling showing Mamdani winning by 12 points.” They released a statement saying Jeffries has “always believed in Zohran’s message,” citing as evidence a time six months ago when Jeffries nodded politely during a photo op before immediately endorsing Mamdani’s centrist opponent and telling donors “don’t worry, the socialist won’t win.”
Queer political organizers see the endorsement as emblematic of larger problems. “The Democratic establishment will grudgingly support LGBTQ+ candidates only after they’ve proven they can win without help,” noted activist River Martinez. “They want queer people’s votes but not queer people’s politics. They want our visibility during Pride but not our voices during policy debates. Jeffries endorsing Mamdani three days before the election isn’t allyshipit’s political covering-your-ass.”
The endorsement has inspired memes, including one showing Jeffries photoshopped into various “better late than never” scenarios: arriving at a wedding during the reception, showing up to a fire after it’s been extinguished, and attending Pride on July 2nd. Another popular meme reads: “Hakeem Jeffries endorsing progressive queer candidates” with a photo of someone running after a bus that left 20 minutes ago.
Mamdani is expected to win Tuesday’s election despite, not because of, Jeffries’s support. When asked if he’ll thank Jeffries in his victory speech, Mamdani smiled and said, “I’ll thank everyone who supported this campaign from the beginningthe organizers, volunteers, and communities who believed in transformative change when the establishment didn’t. That should cover it.” Translation received loud and clear. The progressive queer kid won without permission, and the establishment can stay pressed about it.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/jeffries-finally-endorses-mamdani/
SOURCE: Jeffries Endorses Mamdani After Literal Months (https://bohiney.com/jeffries-finally-endorses-mamdani/)
