Gen Z students propel progressive DSA slate to victory in NY Democratic primaries

On weekends, the graffitied auto garage-turned-nightclub Silo is packed with boozed-up Brooklynites intent on dancing the night away. But on the Monday before the Democratic congressional primaries, the crowd inside the converted hangar was more focused on a slate of progressive candidates winning some tight races.

Awash in neon light, candidates Brad Lander and Claire Valdez each took the stage, urging attendees to tell their communities to vote the next day.

Canvassing in the Rain

Hours earlier, Matthew Smith, a student from Fordham University, bounded up the steps to knock on another Upper West Side brownstone in the rain.

"We gotta win this. We gotta power through," he said.

When the woman inside answered, she politely refuted his spiel. Smith smiled, thanking her, and turned to go back down the steps. When asked if he still gets nervous talking to people about candidates, he admitted, "Yes, every time."

Smith is one of several students who canvassed for the slate of Democratic socialists who ran for Democratic nominations in congressional districts across New York City. That day, he was canvassing for Darializa Avila Chevalier, who prevailed over incumbent Adriano Espaillat for a seat representing NY-13. The win was shared across the slate of candidates endorsed by Zohran Mamdani, which saw victories for Claire Valdez in NY-7 and Brad Lander in NY-10. For many students involved in organizing for Mamdani's slate, the win signifies the manifestation of their vision for the Democratic Party.

Student Organizers Share Their Paths

YDSA national co-chair Sara Almosawi, a student at Cornell University who worked on Valdez and Avila Chevalier's campaigns, joined the organization after graduating from high school.

"I felt deeply moved by both of the Bernie Sanders campaigns, and when the DNC forced Bernie to drop out in 2020, I wanted an alternative. I wanted to build something that really represented the politics of working-class people like myself," said Almosawi.

Several students found their entry into the political left with Zohran Mamdani's 2025 mayoral election in New York City.

"I first volunteered for him because I saw that he represented a campaign, a vision, that resonated with me, which is a working-class-focused vision," said Fuhad Khan, a City College student working as a field lead for Valdez. Sitting in a corner booth at the dingy Rocka Rolla bar in Williamsburg, Khan's bright-blue-and-orange Zohran shirt made him hard to miss.

Khan would go on to join the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), where he became further involved in leftist politics. While Khan "naturally supported any DSA candidates" as a member of the organization, he joined Valdez's team after receiving a call from her campaign.

Christian Garcia-Castilla, a student at Hunter College, had a similar path into politics. He joined Avila Chevalier's campaign in February, months after casting his first vote in a New York City election for Mamdani.

"I'm really proud of our campaign, how far we've gone, and how united we've been," he said.

Mamdani's Impact on Youth Voter Turnout

It comes as no surprise that Mamdani's bid for mayor had such a galvanizing effect on students like Khan and Garcia-Castilla. His NYCDSA-backed campaign captured a shocking 75 percent of voters ages 18–29, a demographic of which former New York governor Andrew Cuomo garnered only 19 percent.

"The youth vote, I think, was critical, and a lot of analysis has shown that the youth vote is overwhelmingly lent for progressive candidates," said Leel Dias, a student at Columbia University who worked on Valdez and Avila Chevalier's campaigns.

Mamdani's successful campaign was a sign of what was to come in the June primaries. Lorelei Crean, a student who graduated from high school in upper Manhattan in June, canvassed for Avila Chevalier. He said the June sweep "was really a testament to New York City DSA's increasing political power in New York City, but also the power of the people to fight for progressive causes and candidates that have a new politic."

Why Young Voters Are Mobilizing

"These campaigns, they invite younger people, because the candidates are younger, the messages that they're conveying are resonating with younger voters because they're actually focused on delivering for younger people, delivering on things that matter to us, like education, affordability, Palestine," Fuhad said.

Smith has also seen that because of races like Mamdani's and Avila Chevalier's, "a lot more young people are getting involved and they're finally seeing themselves in an elected official."

Young people making political waves isn't new. "Students have always been at the forefront of political fights," Smith said, referencing Vietnam anti-war protests, South Africa anti-apartheid movements, and recent encampments in support of Palestine.

Students often lead progressive campaigns, he said, adding that the slate's win required young people leading the way.