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Democratic Party · Midterm Elections · New York Primaries · Progressive Politics
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's progressive allies achieved a significant victory in the state's Democratic congressional primaries on June 23, 2026, successfully ousting two sitting U.S. Representatives, Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman, and defeating the handpicked successor of retiring Rep.
Nydia Velazquez, signaling a powerful shift within the Democratic Party. This sweep represents a major political gamble for the 34-year-old mayor, whose strength is surging, and creates a potential headache for national Democratic leaders, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who campaigned against Mamdani's candidates.
The victorious Mamdani-backed candidates, Darializa Avila Chevalier, Brad Lander, and Claire Valdez, advocate for dramatic changes on key issues such as Israel's war in Gaza, affordability, abolishing ICE, and taxing the rich. Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist, defeated five-term incumbent Espaillat, while Lander, a former city Comptroller, beat two-term incumbent Goldman.
The results underscore a growing divide within the Democratic Party, with progressives pushing the party further left ahead of November's midterm elections, impacting the national political landscape.
Mamdani Progressives Oust Incumbents, Reshape New York Democrats(current)
