Just seven months after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani swept to victory in the New York City mayor's race, becoming the city's first Muslim leader, a new slate of candidates is testing the Democratic Party's political direction in the most populous US city.
Tuesday's primaries will determine which challengers the party nominates to run in the November midterm elections. That vote will, in turn, decide which party controls Congress, giving lawmakers the power to aid or impede President Donald Trump's legislative agenda for his final two years in office.
Most congressional districts in New York City are solidly left-wing bastions, meaning primary winners are all but assured to win in November. But other districts, like those on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, are considered toss-ups, expected to play an outsized role in determining control of the US House of Representatives.
Progressive Brad Lander, the former New York City comptroller, made a pact with Mamdani before last year's mayoral primary, endorsing each other to edge out mutual opponent Andrew Cuomo. The gambit paid off. Now Lander is challenging incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman in New York's 10th District, with their opposing views on Israeli policy dominating the race.
Lander has decried Israeli military action in Gaza as genocide and called for a ban on US weapons to Israel, while Goldman has emphasized support for Israel, rejecting genocide and apartheid claims. Goldman is backed by AIPAC, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Nancy Pelosi, while Lander has support from Mamdani and Bernie Sanders. Recent polls show Lander leading, but margins are expected to be tight.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are testing their electoral power in two primaries. In the 13th District, DSA-endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier threatens longtime incumbent Adriano Espaillat, framing him as out of step with the party. Avila Chevalier supports police, prison, and immigration reform, as well as Palestinian rights. Espaillat, the first formerly undocumented immigrant elected to Congress, champions a more incremental approach.
In the 7th District, DSA candidate Claire Valdez, endorsed by Mamdani, is running against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Both are progressive, sharing goals like abolishing ICE and ending military aid to Israel, but offer different flavors of leftism. Reynoso has union support and the Working Families Party endorsement, while Valdez is seen as emblematic of young transplants.
A more centrist primary is unfolding in the 12th District, where eight challengers seek to replace outgoing Representative Jerrold Nadler. Candidates include Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy (no elected experience), Alex Bores (focusing on AI regulation), and George Conway, a former Republican and prominent Trump critic. Recent polls show Bores and Lasher as frontrunners.
Democrats aim to pick up at least one Republican-held seat in New York this November, targeting incumbent Mike Lawler in the 17th District. Five Democrats are vying to challenge him, with former Army officer Cait Conley leading in recent polls.
Source: www.aljazeera.com