Zohran Mamdani-backed candidates excel in congressional primaries
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsements loomed large over three congressional primaries on Tuesday (June 24, 2026) as he used his popularity to help replace
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsements loomed large over three congressional primaries on Tuesday (June 24, 2026) as he used his popularity to help replace two incumbent Democrats with challengers to their left on issues such as Israel and immigration. Also read | Zohran Mamdani skips annual parade celebrating Israel Mamdani’s slate of candidates with ties to the Democratic Socialists of America swept out area incumbent Democrats in a stunning win for the 34-year-old mayor. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander unseated Representative Dan Goldman in a Lower Manhattan-area district, Assemblymember Claire Valdez defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in an open seat being vacated by retiring Representative Nydia Velazquez and activist Darializa Avila Chevalier narrowly defeated Representative Adriano Espaillat, a five-term congressman and head of the Hispanic caucus. All three are expected to win their elections in November, potentially complicating House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries' role as the likely next speaker if Democrats win control of the House of Representatives. Three new incoming congressional Democrats with no allegiance to the Democratic establishment will give Republicans new rhetorical ammunition to paint the party as radicals overtaken by socialism. In addition to New York, Maryland and Utah both held primaries on Tuesday (June 23, 2026), in addition to a gubernatorial runoff in South Carolina.
Here’s what happened MAMDANI VS JEFFRIES, HOUSE DEMS Three Mamdani-backed candidates won their House primaries Tuesday (June 23, 2026) night, increasing the clout of the Democratic Socialists of America, which now claims several members of Congress, and expanding their influence over the left flank of the Democratic Party. The results were widely seen as shifting New York's congressional delegation to the left, putting incumbents on notice that they are vulnerable if they are out of step with liberal voters who aren't happy with centrist politics on immigration, Israel and Donald Trump. The question now is how these incoming members will fit into the House Democratic Caucus with a potentially narrow majority. Republicans have struggled to govern with razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate. Mike Marinella, a spokesman for House Republicans' campaign arm, called Tuesday (June 23, 2026) "the night the Democrat establishment officially surrendered to Zohran Mamdani and the socialist wing of their party." A ‘HELLCAT’ TO TAKE ON LAWLER New York Democrats elevated combat veteran and national security expert Cait Conley, a member of the “Hellcat” group of female veterans running for office, to run against Republican Representative Mike Lawler in New York's 17th, a swing district targeted by Democrats.
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