Mamdani-backed candidates sweep Democratic primaries in New York City | New York
Zohran Mamdani’s growing influence on the Democratic party was on display Tuesday in New York City, as three congressional candidates endorsed by New York’s democratic socialist mayor won closely watched primary elections.
Former New York City comptroller Brad Lander, who ran for mayor before endorsing Mamdani last year, easily won his race, defeating Democratic representative Dan Goldman.
State lawmaker and former union organizer Claire Valdez defeated Antonio Reynoso in New York’s seventh district, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens and was held by now-retired 17-term Democrat Nydia Velázquez. Reynoso had been backed by Velázquez and Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader who was trying to push back against the party’s left wing.
And in a surprising upset, public defender investigator Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated five-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat in the state’s 13th congressional district.
Mamdani entered the primaries earlier this year and spent her political capital supporting three leftist allies; it was a gamble that would test his popularity and influence. With a slate of candidates almost certain to be elected to Congress in November, Mamdani has made his mark on the state’s congressional delegation and expanded its emerging progressive movement.
John F. Kennedy’s grandson Jack Schlossberg failed in his bid for the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, proving that the influence of America’s most vaunted political family is limited.
In a closely watched nationwide contest, Schlossberg, 33, hoped to capitalize on his massive social media and charismatic campaign, but fell short among crowded Democrats hoping to replace long-serving Rep. Jerry Nadler in one of the nation’s bluest districts. Longtime New York politician and self-described “geek” Micah Lasher won the primary in New York’s 12th district and will be the heavy favorite to win the safe Democratic district in November’s midterm elections.
On Long Island, Democratic freshman representatives Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen easily overcame key challenges as they prepared to defend swing district seats in November.
Former White House counterterrorism official and former Army combat officer Cait Conley won the competitive Democratic primary against Republican representative Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th district, one of only three districts across the United States. voting He nominated Kamala Harris for president in 2024 but chose a Republican member of Congress.
Elsewhere, further evidence of Donald Trump’s stranglehold on the Republican party was offered as Anthony Constantino won the Republican primary in upstate New York’s 21st congressional district. Constantino, backed by the president, faced state Assemblyman Robert Smullen, backed by local party officials.
Constantino will be the favorite to win the November election in the heavily Republican seat vacated by Maga enthusiast Elise Stefanik. Stefanik, whom the president nominated for UN ambassador before withdrawing her nomination. ended his subsequent campaign for governor of New York last year.
Adrian Boafo won the extremely crowded primary race to replace Steny Hoyer, the longest-serving Democrat in the House and a longtime member of the leadership who is retiring at the end of his 23rd term. State delegate Boafo defeated the Former U.S. Capitol police officer Harry Dunn and businesswoman Quincy Bareebe defended the building on January 6.
Republican Rep. Burgess Owens opted not to seek reelection after the newly created map roiled the state’s GOP delegation. Trump backed incumbents running in three Republican-strong districts, while former congressman Brad McAdams won the primary to run in the newly elected Democrat-friendly district in Salt Lake City.
And in South Carolina, state attorney general Alan Wilson won the runoff for the Republican nomination for governor. Trump initially backed lieutenant governor Pamela Akşamte in the race, but at the last minute decided to support both candidates, saying voters “can’t go wrong.”
In the state’s first congressional district, three-star Navy rear admiral Nancy Lacore, who was fired last year by defense secretary Pete Hegseth, defeated U.S. Coast Guard veteran Mac Deford in a runoff for the Democratic nomination.
