Mamdani's Primary Influence
Mayor Mamdani's Endorsements Lead to Three Key Wins in NYC Congressional Primaries
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept all three of his congressional endorsements on Tuesday, ousting two sitting incumbents and blocking an establishment pick in Democratic primaries across the city, CBS News projects. The wins mark a stunning debut of mayoral power for the 34-year-old democratic socialist, who took office just six months ago.
Brad Lander won in NY-10, defeating incumbent Dan Goldman. Claire Valdez won NY-7 with 58% of the vote, crushing Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. And Darializa Avila Chevalier toppled five-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat — chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — in NY-13, according to PBS.
Two Powerful Incumbents Thrown Out in One Night
Espaillat's loss was the biggest shock of the night. He had held NY-13 for a decade and led the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Avila Chevalier, a public defense investigator and Democratic Socialists of America member, campaigned on "Babies, Not Bombs" and attacked Espaillat's record on foreign aid, The Associated Press reported.
In NY-10, Goldman spent over $1 million of his own money and had backing from Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. It was not enough. Lander, a former city comptroller, hammered Goldman's support for military aid to Israel and won, according to City & State New York.
Mamdani Ran the Campaign Like a Second Election
Mamdani did not quietly endorse and step back. He ran TV ads during Knicks playoff games to reach young voters. He headlined a joint rally in Bushwick for Valdez and Lander just days before the vote. He called AIPAC — the pro-Israel lobbying group — "monsters" and defended the remark on the eve of the primary, CBS News reported.
His goal, in his own words, was not just more Democrats but "better Democrats." Political reporter Marcia Kramer of CBS New York said Mamdani tapped into deep voter fatigue with "politics as usual," framing incumbents as out of touch with the city's affordability crisis.
Israel, Legacy Picks, and a Kennedy's Failed Comeback
Three fault lines defined every race Tuesday night. First, the Israel-Gaza war: all three Mamdani allies ran on a ceasefire platform, while incumbents were labeled defenders of an "immoral status quo." Second, legacy candidates flopped. In NY-12, Jack Schlossberg — grandson of JFK — lost to state Assembly Member Micah Lasher in a crowded Manhattan primary, The Boston Globe reported.
Third, voters rejected hand-picked successors. Reynoso was the preferred heir to the legendary Rep. Nydia Velázquez in NY-7. He lost by 25 points. Taken together, the results showed voters in safe Democratic seats moving sharply left on both domestic and foreign policy, according to PBS.
What a Progressive Sweep Means for Albany and Washington
All three winning districts are safe Democratic seats in November. That means Lander, Valdez, and Avila Chevalier will almost certainly reach Congress, expanding the progressive caucus and the so-called "Squad," The Associated Press reported. The loss of Espaillat removes a major institutionalist voice from the House Democratic leadership structure.
Closer to home, the night sets up a direct clash between Mamdani and Governor Hochul. She backed losing candidates in multiple races. That tension could slow down deals on housing and transit funding in Albany. Critics, including some Jewish community leaders, warned that the "monsters" rhetoric could hurt Democrats with moderate voters in the fall, according to CBS News.
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