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\n Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images\n <\/p>\n
Progressive candidates backed by Zohran Mamdani<\/a> and the Democratic Socialists of America scored major wins<\/a> in New York\u2019s primary election on Tuesday, positioning the popular mayor and his allies as a powerful force<\/a> come 2028. The victories are another warning sign to the Democratic establishment: Voters, angry at the party\u2019s leadership for not standing up to President Trump more aggressively and effectively<\/a>, are betting on new blood.<\/p>\n Mamdani endorsed three congressional candidates, all of whom won their races against establishment-backed opponents. Assemblywoman Claire Valdez<\/a>, a 36-year-old former union organizer, defeated Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso in the race to succeed Representative Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez from the Seventh Congressional District. Vel\u00e1zquez, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, is retiring after serving more than three decades and backed Reynoso in the race. Across the river in Manhattan, former New York City comptroller Brad Lander<\/a>, who became a close ally of Mamdani during the mayoral race last year, easily defeated two-term Representative Dan Goldman<\/a> in New York\u2019s Tenth District \u2014 a widely expected outcome. But the biggest upset of the night was Darializa Avila Chevalier<\/a>\u2019s victory over Representative Adriano Espaillat, the 71-year-old incumbent who has represented the 13th Congressional District for five terms. Espaillat, the powerful chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, was endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Governor Kathy Hochul, state attorney general Letitia James, the state\u2019s AFL-CIO, and a slate of other establishment figures. But Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old community organizer, made Espaillat the sixth House incumbent \u2014 four of them Democrats, including Goldman \u2014 to lose their race this election cycle.<\/p>\n Further down the ballot, Democratic Socialists also performed well<\/a> in the primary despite super PACs spending nearly $3 million in support of more moderate candidates. In New York City, six DSA-endorsed candidates<\/a> \u2014 Aber Kawas in State Senate District 12, Samantha Kattan in State Assembly District 37, David Orkin in Assembly District 38, Christian Celeste Tate in Assembly District 54, Eon Huntley in Assembly District 56, and Illapa Sairitupac in Assembly District 65 \u2014 all won by double digits, in some cases unseating incumbents. In Buffalo, Adam Bojak won the primary for Assembly District 149, positioning him to become the first Democratic Socialist to represent western New York. In Syracuse, Maurice \u201cMo\u201d Brown<\/a> was leading the race in Assembly District 129, though the race remained too close to call as of Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just New York \u2014 across the country, other Democratic Socialists have won high-profile primary elections over the past few months. Last week, D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George<\/a>, who ran on the promise of making life in the nation\u2019s capital more affordable, won the city\u2019s mayoral primary. She is likely to face minimal opposition in the general election and is all but guaranteed to succeed Mayor Muriel Bowser. In Los Angeles, Councilmember Nithya Raman<\/a> defeated reality TV star Spencer Pratt<\/a> to secure her spot in the city\u2019s runoff election this November. And in Pennsylvania, Chris Rabb<\/a> won the Democratic primary for the Third Congressional District. He is expected to easily win the general election to represent the nation\u2019s bluest House seat.<\/p>\n Speaking to supporters on Tuesday, Mamdani gestured at his historic primary upset<\/a> last summer. \u201cA year ago, it was not the end of a political movement,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n Stay in touch.<\/p>\n The latest in style, self, culture, and power in your inbox.<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n