Some of New York’s Democratic congressional leaders are carefully straddling the fence in the race for mayor, with Mayor Eric Adams' support wavering and two key politicians — former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams — yet to officially declare that they’re entering the race.

“There’s a group of African American elected officials, clergy members, community leaders that I’m in conversation with,” Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters during an unrelated press conference in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • New York’s Democratic congressional leaders — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Adriano Espalliat — are carefully straddling the fence in the race for mayor

  • Brooklyn Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman tells NY1 he’s sticking to State Sen. Zellnor Myrie

  • Other Congress members have already picked their candidate. Rep. Jerry Nadler is with Scott Stringer, while Rep. Ritchie Torres says he wants Cuomo to run

But it’s almost decision time for top Democratic leaders to decide who they’ll back in the rapidly heating up 2025 mayoral race.

“I expect that those conversations will accelerate over the next few days as the field grows,” Jeffries added.

They’re keeping their eye on Cuomo's possible entry into the race, as well as the City Council speaker, a Queens Democrat.

“Until I’m able to have discussions with those leaders and most importantly the people that I represent, I have nothing further to say about any specific candidate,” Jeffries said. “I have no intention as of this moment of endorsing anyone until a candidate emerges from the Democratic primary.”

But Jeffries did not endorse Adams in 2021, throwing his weight behind the failed progressive candidate Maya Wiley ahead of the Democratic primary. Jeffries and Adams also represented overlapping Brooklyn districts when serving in the state Legislature.

Although leaders say decision time is upon them, that doesn’t mean they will be unified in their choice.

Adams' ally, Harlem Rep. Adriano Espaillat, admitted he’s got his own candidate drafting process to consider.

“I am involved in a coalition of leaders, clergy leaders, business leaders and electeds that will be listening to any and all the candidates for the mayor's race,” he revealed.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman tells NY1 he’s sticking to State Sen. Zellnor Myrie.

“I’ve been focused on this race, Zellnor Myrie is a state senator who has been a terrific leader in Albany, is a thoughtful, creative, pragmatic up-and-comer and represents the new generation of Democrats in New York City,” he said.

But both Jeffries and Espaillat agreed: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s attempt to limit Adams’ power in City Hall is a good idea.

“Governor Hochul is trying to make sure that the city administration is focusing on the people of New York City, and not the whims and wishes of the Trump administration, and that certainly is an appropriate step,” Jeffries said.

“This very aggressive Trump effort to bring forward his MAGA agenda to New York City, which I think most of the people, most of New Yorkers will reject, so we have to have some guard rails,” Espaillat added.

Meanwhile, other Congress members have already picked their candidate. Rep. Jerry Nadler is with Scott Stringer, while Rep. Ritchie Torres says he wants Cuomo to run.