Jeffries downplays clash with Mamdani over New York primaries

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is minimizing the significance of New York's congressional primaries, telling reporters the ideological direction of his party won't rest on a few House seats.

Why it matters: It is all part of a careful balancing act in which Jeffries is trying to stop a democratic socialist takeover while avoiding open conflict with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

• "I don't think we're on opposite pages. You can ask him whether he thinks we're on opposite pages. He doesn't believe we're on opposite pages," Jeffries said Tuesday when asked about his dueling endorsements with Mamdani.
• He added: "A handful of primaries that go in one direction or the other in a given state or two aren't going to reshape who we are as House Democrats."

Driving the news: Jeffries and Mamdani are on opposite ends of two House primaries set to come to a head Tuesday night.

• NY-10: Mamdani is behind progressive former NYC comptroller Brad Lander in his primary challenge to Jeffries-backed Rep. Dan Goldman.
• NY-13: Mamdani has endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a left-wing challenger to Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair Adriano Espaillat, also supported by Jeffries.

What they're saying: Jeffries pointed reporters to his policy of supporting his incumbents for reelection in all but the most extraordinary circumstances.

• "There are multiple races that I've gotten involved in, supporting House Democratic incumbents, which is what I have done and will continue to do," he said.
• He added of Mamdani: "We have agreed to strongly disagree, and we put it in the hands of the people of New York to decide what's the best path forward."

The intrigue: Jeffries gave a wink to Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in his fight with Mamdani-backed State Assembly member Claire Valdez despite not endorsing in that race.

• Democratic leadership hasn't intervened "by custom," he said, but "a coalition of very progressive Democrats ... and many of the unions that we've worked closely with are on one side of that race, with DSA on the other."
• He added that the 7th district is "the most gentrified district in the nation, by far," a nod to the establishment criticism that democratic socialists are strongest among wealthy, well-educated transplants.