House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly embraced a new crop of congressional nominees Saturday, including three Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates whose primary victories have fueled fresh debate over the Democratic Party's leftward shift ahead of the 2026 midterms.The powerful New York lawmaker's post highlights the challenge facing the top House Democrat as he works to unite his party ahead of the general election.If Democrats take back the House in November, Jeffries is expected to become the next speaker.
That means he'll likely be leading a Democratic caucus with more self-described Democratic Socialists than ever before.So far, more than a dozen Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have won or advanced in primaries across the country this election cycle.In a post on X, Jeffries wrote, "Congratulations to our Democratic nominees," before listing the party's congressional candidates from across New York.
Among those recognized were Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, all of whom are affiliated with or backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and secured victories in closely watched Democratic primaries last week.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called Trump official Bill Pulte a "malignant clown." (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg)"From public servants to union organizers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same," Jeffries wrote."We must decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far-right extremism!"RISING SOCIALIST STARS ON TRACK TO CONGRESS: WHO ARE DARIALIZA AVILA CHEVALIER, BRAD LANDER AND CLAIRE VALDEZ?Lander, Chevalier and Valdez all received backing from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose endorsements helped cement the growing influence of the Democratic Party's progressive wing in New York politics.
Lander and Chevalier defeated Jeffries-endorsed incumbents Reps.Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat in their respective Democratic primaries.
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