Mamdani-backed candidates sweep New York Democratic primaries
The three House candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani all won their Democratic primaries on Tuesday, The Hill reports , unseating two incumbents in the process. Democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Representative Adriano Espaillat in New York’s 13th District, and Mamdani’s allies prevailed in other Manhattan-area races, including the contest to succeed retiring Representative Jerry Nadler.
The results extend Mamdani’s influence from City Hall into federal races and mark a tangible win for the Democratic Socialists of America bloc in safe-blue districts, where the primary effectively decides the seat. Ousting sitting members of Congress is rare and signals that the party’s left can now mount and win serious challenges to establishment incumbents.
The sweep sharpens an intra-party divide heading into the midterms, between a progressive wing energized by Mamdani’s coalition and a more centrist establishment defending long-held seats. How national Democrats reconcile those factions will shape the party’s message against Republicans in 2026.