Progressive Mamdani-Backed Candidates Sweep New York House Primaries
In a major upset, three progressive candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won Democratic House primaries in New York City on Tuesday, unseating two incumbents. Brad Lander defeated Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th district, Claire Valdez beat Antonio Reynoso in the 7th, and Darializa Avila Chevalier ousted Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th. The victories, fueled by Democratic Socialists of America volunteers and criticism of Israel, signal a leftward shift in the party and double the number of democratic socialists in the House to four.
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Leftist candidates backed by Zohran Mamdani sweep Democratic House primaries in New York City
Far-left candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won Democratic House primary races in the city, signaling a leftward shift in the party. Two of three winners are Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) members, including Darializa Avila Chevalier, who unseated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Claire Valdez beat a candidate backed by retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, and Brad Lander defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman. The upstarts relied on DSA volunteer networks. Criticism of Israel played a major role in these races. Meanwhile, moderate Democrats fared better outside NYC, and several Trump-endorsed Republicans won primaries in New York and South Carolina. Analysts compare the DSA surge to the Tea Party movement of the 2010s.
TheWeek feedLeftists Surge in New York City Democratic Primaries Amid DSA-Backed Wins
Far-left candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept Democratic House primary races in New York City, signaling a sharp leftward shift among the party's base. Two of the three winners are members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which advocates for universal healthcare, higher taxes on the wealthy, and criticizes Israel as an 'apartheid regime.' The biggest upset was Darializa Avila Chevalier unseating Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Claire Valdez and Brad Lander (a former DSA member) also defeated establishment-backed incumbents. The DSA relied on thousands of volunteers for door-knocking and phone banking. Outside NYC, moderate Democrats fared better in Utah and Maryland, while Trump-endorsed Republicans won in upstate New York and South Carolina. Analysts compare the DSA's rise to the Tea Party movement and note that criticism of Israel is now politically advantageous for Democrats in these districts.
TheWeek feedThe Machine Breaks Down in New York
In a major upset for New York's political establishment, three progressive congressional candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeated well-funded incumbent and establishment opponents in Democratic primaries. Former NYC Comptroller Brad Lander won the Tenth District with 66% against incumbent Dan Sachs Goldman. In the Seventh District, UAW organizer Claire Valdez beat Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso with 56.1%. Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated incumbent Adriano Espaillat in the 13th District with 49.4%, despite facing nearly $7 million in super PAC spending and racist smears. Chevalier, who organized for Palestinian rights at Columbia University, said the win marked a new dawn. The races were seen as a test of Mayor Mamdani's political influence, though grassroots groups like Jews for Racial & Economic Justice emphasized the role of volunteers. Outside groups, including Justice Democrats and American Priorities, spent millions to counter AIPAC's influence.
The American ProspectMamdani-backed candidates sweep New York City Democratic primaries
All three leftist congressional candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their Democratic primaries on Tuesday, unseating two incumbents. In New York's 13th District, doctoral student Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat; in the 7th District, state assembly member Claire Valdez beat outgoing Rep. Nydia Velázquez's chosen successor; and in the 10th District, Brad Lander unseated Rep. Dan Goldman. More moderate Democrats won elsewhere, including Army veteran Cait Conley in New York's 17th District, former Rep. Ben McAdams in Utah's 1st District, and state legislator Adrian Boafo in Maryland's 5th District. In Republican primaries, President Donald Trump's candidates won in two upstate New York races, but his original pick in South Carolina's gubernatorial runoff, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, lost to Attorney General Alan Wilson. The doubling of democratic socialists in the House to four is expected to push the Democratic caucus leftward and create challenges for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
TheWeek feedZohran Mamdani's Progressive Endorsements Win Big in New York House Primaries
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's influence was on full display as all three candidates he endorsed in New York-area House Democratic primaries won on Tuesday night. Brad Lander defeated incumbent Dan Goldman in the 10th district, Claire Valdez beat Antonio Reynoso in the 7th, and political newcomer Darializa Avila Chevalier unseated five-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat in the 13th district. The victories are expected to push House Democrats further left and embolden the party's progressive wing. Mamdani's heavy involvement in congressional races, unusual for a mayor, signals his commitment to reshaping the national Democratic Party around populist economic views, working-class issues, and skepticism of Israel. The results echo Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 upset, reflecting voter frustration with establishment Democrats.
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