New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani cemented his status as a political kingmaker after all three Democratic Socialist candidates he backed won their primary races. Major upsets unfolded in New York City on Tuesday night as Mamdani-backed candidates Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated incumbent Reps.Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., and Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., respectively.And in the open 7th Congressional District, Democratic Socialist Claire Valdez won in spite of outgoing incumbent Rep.
Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., endorsing another candidate.The victories for the Mamdani-backed candidates have sparked questions about where the Democratic Party is headed is headed and whether the traditional party establishment’s influence is waning.NYC Mayor Mamdani And Governor Hochul Hold News Conference On World Cup Transportation Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York, and Kathy Hochul, governor of New York, during a news conference on 2026 FIFA World Cup transportation at the MTA Rail Control Center in New York, US, on Thursday, June 4, 2026.(Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)MAMDANI DISCOURAGES HAKEEM JEFFRIES PRIMARY CHALLENGER, TELLS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO 'FOCUS' ON NYCRep.
Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., alleged that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., cut a deal with Zohran Mamdani to ensure New York City Council member Chi Ossé did not challenge him, claiming Jeffries feared he would lose if Ossé entered the race."Tonight’s results in New York City prove one thing, @RepJeffries cut a deal with @ZohranKMamdani to save himself and threw everyone else under the bus," Lawler wrote on X, alleging that Ossé would have primaried Jeffries."The Democrat party has officially become the party of Zohran, AOC, & Bernie," Lawler continued.SOCIALISTS CHEER ‘SHOCKWAVE’ PRIMARY NIGHT AS DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES WIN, ADVANCE ACROSS THE MAPNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed state Assembly Member Claire Valdez in the Democratic primary for New York’s 7th Congressional...