Politics Foreign Affairs Culture Fellows Program

Mamdani-Backed DSA Candidates Sweep NYC Dem Primaries

State of the Union: The victories showcase the increasing influence of the DSA in U.S. urban politics.
Bernie Sanders And Zohran Mamdani Join Local Candidates For Campaign Rally Ahead Of Primary Election In New York
Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player...

Three progressive congressional candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won Democratic primaries Tuesday, a sweep that signaled the democratic socialist mayor’s expanding influence and gave the party’s leftmost flank a set of likely new House members from heavily Democratic city districts.

The former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated incumbent Dan Goldman, the democratic socialist Assemblywoman Claire Valdez won the primary to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, and the public defense investigator Darializa Avila Chevalier upset Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a five-term incumbent who currently chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Velázquez and Chevalier were also backed by the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which Mamdani is a member. The DSA, which first became prominent in 2016 as a result of Bernie Sanders’s campaign for the Democratic nomination, has grown significantly in the intervening decade and is now flexing its influence in major urban areas across the country, to the consternation of many Republicans and some centrist Democrats.

President Donald Trump sent Mamdani an apparently sarcastic congratulations, writing on his Truth Social account, “Mayor Mamdani pulled through 3 solid Communists, and has received loud and universal applause from the Fake News Media. Congratulations Mr. Mayor!”

The victories are a major triumph for Mamdani, who has sought to translate his mayoral victory into broader political power. All three nominees will be heavily favored in November.

×

Donate to The American Conservative Today

This is not a paywall!

Your support helps us continue our mission of providing thoughtful, independent journalism. With your contribution, we can maintain our commitment to principled reporting on the issues that matter most.

Donate Today:

Donate to The American Conservative Today