Schumer’s Silence Sparks Outcry as Democrats Clash Over Mamdani’s Candidacy

By Charlie McCarthy | Friday, 31 October 2025 08:31 AM EDT

Progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of hypocrisy after he refused to endorse democratic socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, despite frequently urging other Democrats to back their party’s nominees.

During a CNN interview Thursday, Omar criticized Schumer’s “silence,” stating, “We as Democrats have always believed that, in an election, we support our party’s nominee.” She highlighted that Schumer has previously pressured colleagues to unify behind candidates, adding, “He should be following his own advice.”

The Democratic Party remains deeply divided over Mamdani’s candidacy. The 34-year-old New York State assemblyman, a self-described democratic socialist, advocates for rent freezes, expanded welfare programs, and a significant expansion of the city’s public sector. Despite House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., endorsing Mamdani last week, Schumer has yet to publicly back him.

Omar suggested anti-Muslim bias might underpin Schumer’s hesitation, citing “a tsunami of anti-Muslim attacks” against Mamdani as “deeply concerning.” She argued that Schumer should support “the million Muslims who live in New York City and the millions who live in New York and in America.”

Omar dismissed allegations that Mamdani was slow to condemn the slogan “Globalize the intifada,” calling accusations of antisemitism “overused to the point of absurdity.” She emphasized that Mamdani has a broad coalition, including Jewish voters, Muslim communities, and young supporters who see “hope in the kind of progress he could create.”

Mamdani’s campaign has drawn fire from moderates and conservatives alike. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent, warned that Mamdani’s agenda would devastate New York’s economy, urging residents to “book airline tickets for Florida now.” The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a new ad campaign branding Jeffries and others as “radical socialist Zohran Mamdani” allies, using hammer-and-sickle imagery to frame the party’s shift left.

President Donald Trump labeled Mamdani a “100% communist lunatic,” warning that blocking federal law enforcement cooperation would result in his arrest. With Election Day approaching, Schumer’s refusal to endorse Mamdani underscores growing tensions within the Democratic Party over its evolving direction.