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By Jenni Fink and Anna Commander
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The New York congressional primaries on Tuesday are shaping up as more than a series of House contests. They have become a referendum on which faction of the Democratic Party holds greater sway in the party's largest city: the traditional establishment represented by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries or the ascendant progressive movement led by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Three candidates backed by Mamdani won their primary races Tuesday night, potentially signaling a changing of the guard from establishment Democrats to a more progressive wing of the party.
Reacting to some of the results Tuesday night, Van Jones—former adviser to President Barack Obama—told CNN's Kaitlan Collins in part that if Mamdani completed the "hat trick," it would mark "a new era in Democratic Party politics."
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Jones also said that the "roof is collapsing on the Democratic Party establishment tonight."
Who Has Zohran Mamdani Endorsed in New York Primaries?
At stake are three congressional races in which Mamdani has thrown his political weight behind challengers and progressive allies. The contests have transformed into proxy battles over the future direction of the Democratic Party, testing whether Mamdani's surprising ascent from democratic socialist assemblyman to mayor can be translated into broader political power, and whether Jeffries remains the dominant force in New York Democratic politics as he seeks to lead Democrats back to a House majority.
Tuesday's primaries represent the first real test of that strategy. Mamdani has endorsed former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander against Representative Dan Goldman in the 10th Congressional District, organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier against Representative Adriano Espaillat in the 13th District and Assemblymember Claire Valdez in the open-seat contest to replace retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez.
According to the Associated Press, Lander was called as the winner at 9:04 p.m. ET. The race was also called in favor of Valdez by the news service at 9:23 p.m., and at 10:38 p.m., Chevalier was declared victorious, sealing the Mamdani-backed trifecta.
The unusual clash reflects the changing dynamics of New York politics since Mamdani's 2025 mayoral victory. His win over former Governor Andrew Cuomo was viewed nationally as a landmark triumph for the Democratic left and a sign that voters were increasingly receptive to candidates focused on affordability, housing costs and economic inequality. Since taking office in January, Mamdani has sought to convert that momentum into an organized movement capable of reshaping New York's congressional delegation and, ultimately, the Democratic Party itself.
For Mamdani, the races are an opportunity to demonstrate that his personal popularity extends beyond City Hall and can be transferred to other candidates. Political scientists have described the contests as his biggest test since winning the mayoralty because they will show whether voters are embracing a broader ideological movement or simply elected a uniquely effective individual candidate.
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Who Has Hakeem Jeffries Endorsed in New York Primaries?
The races are equally important for Jeffries. As House Democratic leader, his responsibilities differ significantly from Mamdani's. Jeffries is tasked with protecting incumbents, maintaining party unity and maximizing Democratic chances of retaking the House in November. That mission frequently places him at odds with primary challengers who target sitting Democratic lawmakers from the left.
Jeffries has endorsed Goldman and Espaillat, putting him directly opposite Mamdani in two of the most closely watched contests. The split highlights a broader ideological divide: Jeffries represents Democrats who argue that the party must maintain a broad coalition capable of winning competitive districts nationwide, while Mamdani and his allies believe voters are hungry for a more ambitious progressive agenda centered on economic populism and structural change.
What makes the confrontation particularly notable is that both figures are emerging national leaders from New York, yet they draw their strength from different constituencies. Jeffries has spent years building relationships throughout the Democratic establishment and congressional caucus. Mamdani's power comes from grassroots organizing, younger voters, labor activists and the progressive movement energized by figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The outcome of the primaries could therefore offer clues about the broader Democratic debate heading into the 2028 presidential cycle. They may offer a preview of future ideological battles within the party. Progressive victories would strengthen arguments that Democrats should embrace a more populist economic message and shift further left. Establishment victories would reinforce the position of leaders like Jeffries who contend that incumbency, coalition-building and ideological moderation remain essential to electoral success.
What New York Means for Democrats Nationwide
The Mamdani-Jeffries rivalry also carries symbolic significance because it mirrors tensions that have hovered around New York Democratic politics for years. The city's growing socialist and progressive movements have increasingly challenged long-established party structures. Mamdani's election accelerated those trends, while Jeffries has emerged as one of the most prominent defenders of the party's institutional wing.
Several of the races also feature disputes over issues that have divided Democrats nationally, including Israel and the war in Gaza. Differences on foreign policy have escalated tensions between progressive challengers and incumbent lawmakers and have made these primaries a focal point for national political groups and outside spending organizations.
The foreign policy divide is especially visible in the 10th Congressional District race between Goldman and Lander. Goldman, who has emerged as one of the strongest pro-Israel voices among New York Democrats in Congress, argues that Democrats must maintain support for Israel while also pursuing a path toward peace. Lander, meanwhile, has been more openly critical of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and has attracted support from progressive activists who view the conflict as a defining issue for the party. The disagreement has turned what might otherwise have been a local race into a national debate over the future of Democratic foreign policy.
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin in a released statement to Newsweek on Tuesday night said: "Brad Lander is a tireless champion for working people throughout New York City. From leading on affordable housing and standing up for workers and renters on the City Council, to rooting out corruption and taking on Donald Trump as comptroller, Brad has always put people first. In Congress, he will continue his work to lower costs, raise wages, invest in housing, expand access to healthcare, and hold the Trump administration accountable. The DNC is ready to help organize and mobilize voters to send Brad to the House and ensure New Yorkers have a proven leader who will deliver for them.”
The issue is also central to Mamdani's broader political project. Several of the lawmakers targeted by Mamdani-backed challengers are viewed by the mayor's allies as insufficiently critical of Israel's conduct during the war in Gaza. In the 13th District, Mamdani's endorsement of Chevalier against Espaillat has generated particular controversy among establishment Democrats and some community leaders. The race has become a proxy fight over whether progressive activism around Gaza can successfully challenge incumbent Democrats in deep-blue districts.
Alongside local ideological divisions, congressional primaries in the city have become battlegrounds for larger fights over Israel, progressive activism and the Democratic Party's national identity. As a result, the outcomes will likely be scrutinized not only as a measure of Mamdani's influence versus Jeffries' establishment network, but also as an indicator of whether Democratic primary voters are rewarding candidates who push the party toward a more confrontational stance on Israel and a more progressive vision overall.
Primary Results Mean 'Game On' for Establishment Democrats
Thomas S. De Luca Jr., political science professor at Fordham University, told Newsweek Tuesday night: "The guard hasn't changed yet, but this is clearly a warning to the establishment that 'game on.' It's not just AOC and a few select others anymore. The real question of changing of the guard will happen in 2028 in the race for president, and maybe in New York when Democratic Senate leader Schumer is up for reelection.
"It now looks like 3 of 3 of the Mamdani-backed congressional candidates have won in New York City. This includes but transcends Mamdani. Along with his skill, it's what made his election possible in the first place. It's a desire for a clear progressive demand for change, and the unwillingness to go along with politics as usual."
De Luca Jr. added that "Nothing makes this clearer than the collapse of support for the Netanyahu-led Israeli government in the Democratic Party. At one time, any opposition to, or criticism of, Israel and support for Palestinians was a third rail of Democratic politics in New York City. It's still a third rail--but those who get burned are now those who countenanced in any way the Netanyahu government-engineered utter destruction of Gaza and mass killings of Palestinians. Just ask Dan Goldman."
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Following the results, Meghan McCain, author and daughter of diplomat and humanitarian Cindy McCain and the late Republican U.S. Senator John McCain, said on X, "It’s Mamdani’s party now - good luck guys…"
Trump also commented late Tuesday night on Goldman losing his race, saying, "Weak and pathetic Congressman Dan Goldman just lost, BIG! I guess people didn’t like him illegally targeting President TRUMP. In any event, this jerk is finally GONE! President DJT."
Despite the high stakes, the contest is not necessarily a zero-sum battle between Mamdani and Jeffries. Both remain influential Democrats with overlapping interests in defeating Republicans and advancing Democratic priorities. Yet Tuesday's results are likely to be interpreted through the lens of political momentum. Victories by Mamdani-backed candidates may bolster narratives that a new generation of progressive leaders are gaining strength.
While no single primary will determine the future of the Democratic Party, Tuesday's races potentially provide one of the clearest indications yet of whether New York's political center of gravity is shifting toward Mamdani's movement. The results could also reverberate beyond New York, influencing recruitment, messaging and intra-party strategy as Democrats prepare for the 2026 midterms and begin looking toward 2028.
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