Blab Politics
Mamdani-Backed Candidates Sweep NYC Democratic Primaries, Shifting Party Dynamics
On Tuesday, June 24, 2026, New York City voters delivered a series of victories for candidates aligned with Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The results, announced by the New York Board of Elections, saw former city comptroller Brad Lander defeat incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th Congressional District; Assemblymember Claire Valdez unseat Antonio Reynoso in the 7th District; and Darializa Avila Chevalier topple five‑term incumbent Adriano Espaillat in the 13th District. The sweep also included wins for pro‑Israel Democrats Ritchie Torres in the Bronx and Micah Lasher in the 12th Assembly District, and a net gain of at least six state‑legislative seats for DSA‑backed candidates.
The primary outcomes underscore a growing influence of the DSA in New York politics. According to the Board’s unofficial results, Lander’s victory over Goldman marked the first time a challenger has unseated a two‑term congressman in the city’s 10th District since 2014. Lander, who has served as city comptroller since 2022, received endorsements from Mam Mamdani, Senator Bernie Sanders, and the Working Families Party.
In the 7th District, Valdez, a DSA member, defeated Antonio Reynoso, who had the backing of retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez and the Democratic establishment. Valdez’s win was the first time a DSA candidate has captured a congressional seat in the city’s western Queens area.
Chevalier’s upset of Espaillat, a long‑time leader of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, was the most dramatic of the night. Espaillat had represented the 13th District since 2011 and had served as its chair. Chevalier, a former Columbia University activist, won with 49% of the vote to Espaillat’s 46%.
The results have drawn attention from pro‑Israel Democrats. Dan Goldman, a Jewish congressman known for his support of Israel’s right to defend itself, had defended Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Brad Lander, who has criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza and used the term “genocide” in public statements, was seen as a key challenger to Goldman’s record.
The primary also highlighted the continued strength of pro‑Israel voices in the city. Rep. Ritchie Torres, who has been a vocal defender of U.S.–Israel ties, won decisively in the Bronx against challenger Michael Blake, who had made Torres’s pro‑Israel stance a central issue. Assemblyman Micah Lasher, who represents a district with a high concentration of Jewish voters, also won without adopting an anti‑Israel platform.
The sweep has implications for House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Jeffries, who had backed Goldman and Espaillat, saw both of his allies defeated by Mamdani‑aligned challengers. Some of the victorious candidates declined to commit to supporting Jeffries’s leadership, raising questions about the influence of the party’s left flank in a future Democratic majority.
The DSA’s gains extend beyond the federal level. According to the Board, the organization’s slate captured at least six seats in the New York State Assembly, indicating a broader strategy to reshape Democratic politics from local to national levels.
The primary outcomes have sparked concern among pro‑Israel Democrats about the direction of the party’s foreign‑policy stance. The DSA’s platform calls for reduced U.S. military spending and supports pro‑Palestinian and anti‑Zionist causes. Critics argue that the movement’s growing power normalizes hostility toward Zionism within Democratic politics.
The Board’s results are still pending certification, and the final vote counts will be released by the end of the week. The next steps for the newly elected candidates include filing for the general election ballot and preparing campaign infrastructure for the November 3, 2026, election.
In summary, the June 24 primaries marked a significant shift in New York City politics, with Mamdani‑backed candidates capturing three congressional seats and expanding DSA influence in the state legislature. The outcomes have drawn attention to the evolving dynamics within the Democratic Party, particularly regarding its stance on Israel and the balance of power between establishment and progressive factions.
The primary outcomes underscore a growing influence of the DSA in New York politics. According to the Board’s unofficial results, Lander’s victory over Goldman marked the first time a challenger has unseated a two‑term congressman in the city’s 10th District since 2014. Lander, who has served as city comptroller since 2022, received endorsements from Mam Mamdani, Senator Bernie Sanders, and the Working Families Party.
In the 7th District, Valdez, a DSA member, defeated Antonio Reynoso, who had the backing of retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez and the Democratic establishment. Valdez’s win was the first time a DSA candidate has captured a congressional seat in the city’s western Queens area.
Chevalier’s upset of Espaillat, a long‑time leader of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, was the most dramatic of the night. Espaillat had represented the 13th District since 2011 and had served as its chair. Chevalier, a former Columbia University activist, won with 49% of the vote to Espaillat’s 46%.
The results have drawn attention from pro‑Israel Democrats. Dan Goldman, a Jewish congressman known for his support of Israel’s right to defend itself, had defended Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Brad Lander, who has criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza and used the term “genocide” in public statements, was seen as a key challenger to Goldman’s record.
The primary also highlighted the continued strength of pro‑Israel voices in the city. Rep. Ritchie Torres, who has been a vocal defender of U.S.–Israel ties, won decisively in the Bronx against challenger Michael Blake, who had made Torres’s pro‑Israel stance a central issue. Assemblyman Micah Lasher, who represents a district with a high concentration of Jewish voters, also won without adopting an anti‑Israel platform.
The sweep has implications for House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Jeffries, who had backed Goldman and Espaillat, saw both of his allies defeated by Mamdani‑aligned challengers. Some of the victorious candidates declined to commit to supporting Jeffries’s leadership, raising questions about the influence of the party’s left flank in a future Democratic majority.
The DSA’s gains extend beyond the federal level. According to the Board, the organization’s slate captured at least six seats in the New York State Assembly, indicating a broader strategy to reshape Democratic politics from local to national levels.
The primary outcomes have sparked concern among pro‑Israel Democrats about the direction of the party’s foreign‑policy stance. The DSA’s platform calls for reduced U.S. military spending and supports pro‑Palestinian and anti‑Zionist causes. Critics argue that the movement’s growing power normalizes hostility toward Zionism within Democratic politics.
The Board’s results are still pending certification, and the final vote counts will be released by the end of the week. The next steps for the newly elected candidates include filing for the general election ballot and preparing campaign infrastructure for the November 3, 2026, election.
In summary, the June 24 primaries marked a significant shift in New York City politics, with Mamdani‑backed candidates capturing three congressional seats and expanding DSA influence in the state legislature. The outcomes have drawn attention to the evolving dynamics within the Democratic Party, particularly regarding its stance on Israel and the balance of power between establishment and progressive factions.
