Mamdani-backed progressives sweep three New York House primaries
The New York City mayor’s endorsed candidates beat establishment-backed Democrats, including two incumbents, in Tuesday’s primaries.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s three endorsed candidates won Democratic U.S. House primaries Tuesday, a result the Associated Press described as a show of his growing power inside the party. The wins put three of his allies on track for Congress in heavily Democratic districts, including two candidates who identify as democratic socialists.
Mamdani had backed progressives against candidates supported by more established Democratic figures. According to AP, he framed the effort as a push to elect “better Democrats” who would “put working people back at the heart of politics.”
At a Brooklyn election-night event, AP reported that supporters chanted “DSA,” referring to the Democratic Socialists of America. Two of the Mamdani-backed winners are democratic socialists.
Three wins in New York
In the race to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, state Assembly Member Claire Valdez defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, according to AP. Mamdani endorsed Valdez, while Velázquez backed Reynoso.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat lost his reelection bid to Darializa Avila Chevalier, AP reported. Avila Chevalier, another Mamdani-backed democratic socialist, has not previously held public office and helped organize pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University, according to AP.
Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, also endorsed by Mamdani, defeated Rep. Dan Goldman after campaigning to Goldman’s left, AP reported. The race included debate over the war in Gaza, with Lander criticizing Goldman as insufficiently critical of Israel, according to AP.
AP reported that the three New York winners are favored in their Democratic districts, which would send three Mamdani allies to Congress in January.
AI spending shapes another Manhattan race
AP also reported that a separate crowded Democratic primary in Manhattan became a proxy fight over artificial intelligence regulation. The race was for the seat held by retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler.
Assemblyman Alex Bores, a former Palantir employee, had promoted a broad state-level AI regulation bill and cited ethical concerns in leaving the company, according to AP. A political group funded by OpenAI investors spent more than $7 million on ads opposing Bores, while a group tied to Anthropic spent more than $10 million supporting him, AP reported.
Bores lost to Assemblymember Micah Lasher, whom AP described as a longtime government figure backed by Democratic leaders. Lasher said Tuesday night that he would not take direction from either AI company on protections for children, jobs or the environment, according to AP.
Other primary results
In South Carolina, President Donald Trump endorsed both Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson in a Republican gubernatorial runoff after initially backing Evette, AP reported. Wilson won the runoff, giving Trump a win after two earlier endorsed candidates for governor lost Republican primaries in Iowa and Georgia, according to AP.
In Utah, former Rep. Ben McAdams won a Democratic primary in a newly drawn Salt Lake City-area district that AP described as favorable to Democrats. McAdams, who had previously run as a moderate and described himself as pro-life in 2018, pledged support for abortion rights in the new contest, according to AP.
In Maryland, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore won his primary as he seeks a second term, AP reported. Republicans nominated Dan Cox, who AP said ran to the right of a nine-candidate field and campaigned on cutting taxes and expanding housing affordability programs.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.