Next week’s primaries in New York will test Zohran Mamdani’s political power six months into his mayoral term and set up what’s likely to be one of the fall’s most competitive House races in the Hudson Valley.
Mamdani has endorsed a trio of Democratic candidates running for House seats across New York City, including two who are challenging incumbents in primaries: Brad Lander, the former city comptroller who is running against Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th District, and organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is taking on Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in the 13th District.
Mamdani is also backing state Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, who is locked in a close Democratic race with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for the 7th District seat Democrat Nydia M. Velázquez is vacating.
All three Mamdani-backed candidates are running to the left of their opponents, who identify as progressives themselves. Espaillat and Goldman are both members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Avila Chevalier and Valdez are both endorsed by the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
While Lander’s challenge to Goldman has appeared strong for much of the year, landing the incumbent on CQ Roll Call’s list of most vulnerable House incumbents last month, Avila Chevalier’s campaign got a high-profile boost late last month when Mamdani officially endorsed her.
