Three Picks, Three Wins: Why Zohran Mamdani Is Being Called New York’s Kingmaker

Published 25 June 2026 · us

Three Picks, Three Wins: Why Zohran Mamdani Is Being Called New York’s Kingmaker Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 09:09 IST Three candidates backed

Three Picks, Three Wins: Why Zohran Mamdani Is Being Called New York’s Kingmaker Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 09:09 IST Three candidates backed by Mamdani won key congressional primaries, showing that his political influence now extends far beyond his own mayoral victory. Rapid Read New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (File) Zohran Mamdani was not on the ballot in New York’s Democratic congressional primaries. Yet by the end of the night, the city’s mayor had emerged as their most consequential winner. All three candidates backed by Mamdani won their races. Brad Lander defeated sitting Congressman Dan Goldman. Claire Valdez beat Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso for an open House seat. Darializa Avila Chevalier pulled off the night’s biggest upset by unseating veteran Congressman Adriano Espaillat. The three districts strongly favour Democrats, putting the primary winners on course to enter Congress after the November midterms. The results gave Mamdani a clean sweep and strengthened the argument that his surprise victory over Andrew Cuomo in last year’s Democratic mayoral primary was not an isolated political shock. His campaign organisation, endorsement and ideological appeal now appear capable of helping other candidates win. “We are showing that last June, a year ago tomorrow, was not an anomaly," Mamdani said. “It was not the end. It was the beginning." What Happened In The Three Races? The most closely watched contest was in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, where former New York City comptroller Brad Lander challenged Representative Dan Goldman. Lander ran to Goldman’s left, while Mamdani and his allies attacked the congressman over his support for Israel. Goldman had refused to endorse Mamdani after his mayoral primary victory because of the mayor’s views on Israel, despite Mamdani performing strongly in Goldman’s district. Mamdani then threw his weight behind Lander. The support was not symbolic. He campaigned aggressively for him and appeared with him soon after voting ended to celebrate what became a decisive victory.

The second race was for the Brooklyn and Queens seat being vacated by Representative Nydia Velázquez. Mamdani backed Claire Valdez, a first-term state assemblywoman and democratic socialist, against Antonio Reynoso, the Brooklyn borough president. Reynoso appeared to have several advantages. He had deep roots in the district, a progressive record and support from Velázquez. He had also previously been considered an ally of Mamdani. Valdez, however, turned the contest into a fight over who represented the next phase of the city’s left-wing politics. Reynoso drew more support from older, long-established residents, while Valdez appealed strongly to newer voters in gentrifying neighbourhoods. Mamdani’s intervention gave Valdez greater visibility and helped cast the race as a choice between an established progressive and a newer democratic socialist movement. The third result was the most dramatic. Darializa Avila Chevalier, an activist, democratic socialist and former Mamdani campaign volunteer, defeated Adriano Espaillat, who had spent two decades trying to reach Congress and another 10 years serving there. Espaillat was the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, making his defeat particularly significant. The result was arguably New York’s biggest House primary upset since Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated 10-term congressman Joe Crowley in 2018. Mamdani and his allies had accused Espaillat of being too close to corporate interests and too supportive of Israel. Why Is Mamdani Being Called A Kingmaker? Political endorsements are common. What made Mamdani’s endorsements different was the scale of their impact. He backed three candidates in three congressional contests and all three won. Two unseated sitting members of Congress, while the third defeated a more established rival backed by the retiring incumbent. The victories showed that Mamdani’s political strength now extends beyond his own campaign. His communications director, Anna Bahr, described the results as a rejection of campaigns dominated by wealthy donors and consultants. “Mayor Mamdani is modeling a different kind of politics — not billionaire-funded or consultant-driven, but one that champions the needs of working people," Bahr told CNN.