Socialist-Backed Candidates Sweep New York Primaries, Oust Two Incumbents
Three congressional candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America won their primary races on Tuesday, defeating two sitting lawmakers and signaling the growing influence of the progressive left in the city.
In a closely watched race, Brad Lander, a former New York City comptroller backed by Mamdani, defeated Democratic Representative Dan Goldman in a contest where the war in Gaza emerged as a key issue [180416][179684]. Lander criticized Goldman for not being tough enough on Israel [179684]. Meanwhile, in upper Manhattan, Democratic socialist and public defender Darializa Avila Chevalier, backed by Mamdani, unseated 71-year-old Representative Adriano Espaillat [179684]. In Brooklyn and Queens, Assemblymember Claire Valdez, also endorsed by Mamdani, won the primary to replace retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez [179684][180416].
The victories mark a clean sweep for Mamdani, who endorsed three candidates in the Democratic primaries [180519]. All three will now move on to the general election in November [180529]. The results come one year after Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won the New York mayor’s race, and demonstrate the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America in state politics [180529][180519].
In a separate Manhattan race, John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, failed to advance in his bid to replace Representative Jerry Nadler [180416].