A significant political upheaval has swept through New York's Democratic primary elections, largely fueled by the formidable influence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Three progressive candidates, bolstered by Mamdani's endorsements, clinched crucial House seat primaries on Tuesday night, leading to the defeat of two incumbent representatives and the successful capture of an open district.
Illapa Sairitupac, Democratic New York State assembly candidate, from left, Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York, and Brad Lander, former New York City comptroller and US Democratic House candidate for New York, campaign during a primary election in New York, US, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Credit: Adam Gray | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Among the notable victories, Brad Lander, who previously served as the city's comptroller, scored a decisive win over incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th congressional district, covering parts of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. In the 13th District, spanning upper Manhattan and sections of the Bronx, Mamdani-endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier emerged triumphant, prompting incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat to concede.
The third candidate backed by Mayor Mamdani, Claire Valdez, secured the primary for an open House seat in the 7th District, which includes neighborhoods across Brooklyn and Queens. The incumbent for this district, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, had announced she would not seek re-election.
These victories highlight the growing power of progressive movements in New York. Both Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez notably received strong backing from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) organization. The DSA's strategic efforts were instrumental just a year prior when they helped Mamdani achieve a stunning mayoral primary victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, ultimately leading to his win in the general election.
Reflecting on the primary results, Mayor Mamdani articulated his vision for the future of the Democratic Party: "It's not just a question of electing more Democrats. It's a question of electing better Democrats." He further elaborated, "When I look at these candidacies, I see in them a willingness to also put working people back at the heart of our politics."
Beyond the Mamdani-backed successes, another closely observed contest was the primary to succeed Rep. Jerry Nadler in Manhattan's 12th District. State assemblyman Micah Lasher secured the nomination, defeating fellow state assemblyman Alex Bores and a field of other candidates, including Jake Schlossberg, the grandson of the late President John F. Kennedy. This particular race drew significant national attention due to an extraordinary $20 million in spending by two political action committees (PACs) affiliated with major artificial intelligence companies, actively working to either support or oppose Bores' candidacy.
Given the deeply Democratic voter bases in these districts, the winners of these four primaries are widely considered to be strong favorites to win their respective general elections in November, signaling a potentially new era for New York's congressional representation.
