New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's push to advance progressive candidates in New York's congressional races resulted in three primary victories Tuesday night, unseating two incumbent Democrats and securing a vacant seat with democratic socialist candidates.
The winning candidates, backed by Mamdani, are expected to win their general elections in the safely Democratic districts.
In the 10th Congressional District, former city comptroller Brad Lander defeated incumbent Representative Dan Goldman. Lander, who had previously run against Mamdani for mayor, received the mayor's endorsement in his congressional bid. The race highlighted differing stances on the conflict in Gaza, with Lander utilizing Goldman's support for Israel as a point of contention. Goldman, first elected in 2022, previously served as lead counsel during former President Donald Trump's first impeachment proceedings.
Claire Valdez, a member of the New York State Assembly, won the open seat in the 7th Congressional District, replacing retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez. The district, encompassing parts of Brooklyn and Queens, has been described as left-leaning. Valdez, a union organizer and former low-wage worker, also supported Mamdani's mayoral campaign. Valdez's victory was called by the Associated Press shortly after polls closed.
In the 13th Congressional District, which covers parts of Manhattan and the Bronx, democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier unseated incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat. Avila Chevalier, an investigator at the public defender's office, faced scrutiny over past social media posts, including statements questioning Israel's right to exist and critical remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris. Espaillat, the first Dominican American in Congress and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, raised concerns about her past statements. The race also saw accusations of racism leveled by an adviser to Espaillat against Avila Chevalier's campaign.