Mamdani-backed Candidates Sweep NY Democratic Primaries, Ousting Incumbents

In a dramatic turn of events, New York City’s Democratic primary on Tuesday saw a clean sweep for candidates championed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The results unseated several established officeholders and underscored growing rift within the party over policy toward the Israel‑Gaza conflict.

Brad Lander, a progressive challenger and former city comptroller, defeated two‑term incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman in the 10th District with a landslide 65.7% to 34.1%. Lander has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a stance that drew strong opposition from pro‑Israel groups backing Goldman.

In the 7th District, Assemblywoman Claire Valdez toppled Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, while in the 13th District doctoral student Darializa Avila Chevalier unseated veteran congressman Adriano Espaillat. Chevalier’s victory is notable for her active participation in pro‑Palestinian protests at Columbia University and her challenge of long‑standing incumbency.

Mamdani applauded the wins, describing the candidates as having “clarity, conscience and conviction.” He also praised Lander’s vision for a politics “more than what we’ve seen for so long,” a sentiment echoed by his endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders.

The endorsements are viewed as a test of Mamdani’s political reach, as he seeks to tilt the city’s Democratic Party further left. Establishment Democrats in Washington warn that such a shift may not resonate with swing voters in the upcoming 2026 mid‑term elections.

While the primary results rally the progressive base, they also stir controversy: Trump’s social‑media post branded Mamdani a “communist,” a thinly veiled charge he rejected. The heated debate over Israel’s policies continues to resonate, especially as the new representatives have pledged to abolish ICE and tax the wealthy.

In other races in the city, Jewish businessman Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, lost to assembly member Micah Lasher, and George Conway, a longtime critic of Trump, captured only about 6% of the vote in the 12th District.