Mamdani-backed progressives win New York congressional seats

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 08:34 · Archive

Three Democratic candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won congressional seats in Tuesday's midterm election. Claire Valdez won New York's 7th Congressional District, Darializa Avila Chevalier won the 13th, and Brad Lander won the 10th. All three triumphed in heavily Democratic areas, with Valdez and Lander winning by roughly 70 points and Avila Chevalier by about 80 points.

Valdez and Avila Chevalier are members of the Democratic Socialists of America, while Lander is considered DSA-adjacent after receiving Mamdani's endorsement. Valdez is a New York State Assembly member and Avila Chevalier is a community organiser. Lander served as New York City comptroller and defeated sitting Congressman Dan Goldman in the June primary. Avila Chevalier unseated longtime Congressman Adriano Espaillat in that primary, while Valdez won the race to succeed retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez.

In June, Mamdani had rallied support for all three candidates at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre. All three went on to win their Democratic primary races, with the June primaries effectively serving as the decisive contests in the heavily Democratic districts. The victories mark another expansion of the Democratic Socialists of America's presence in Congress and represent what outlets describe as a deepening divide within New York's Democratic Party between establishment and progressive wings.

Former Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez had supported Valdez's primary opponent Antonio Reynoso, the Brooklyn borough president, and expressed concern about outside political figures influencing races in the district. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not endorse in the races but acknowledged the divide between the DSA-backed candidates and other established New York Democrats, including state Attorney General Letitia James.

How it is being reported

• Socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier sails to victory along with Mamdani’s slate of lefty House candidatesMamdani's socialist slate sailed to victory Tuesday night, riding the socialist wave as the extreme left group tries to take over the Democratic Party.New York Post · 4 Nov, 02:19
• Mamdani-backed socialist wins NYC House seat as DSA expands its reach in CongressClaire Valdez's DSA-backed win in NY-7 deepens a growing rift dividing New York Democrats, with Hakeem Jeffries and John Fetterman weighing in.Fox News · 4 Nov, 02:09
• Mamdani’s progressive allies vie for seats in CongressThree New York City progressive Democrats are expected to win their midterm congressional races in Tuesday's election.Al Jazeera · 2 Nov, 20:48
• Mamdani-endorsed progressives fight to join CongressZohran Mamdani is championing a slate of Congressional candidates who want to take progressive policies national.Al Jazeera · 2 Nov, 20:28

In this story: Zohran Mamdani · Claire Valdez · Brad Lander · Darializa Avila Chevalier · Democratic Socialists of America · New York

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log