{"id":2617618,"date":"2026-06-23T07:54:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T11:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-tries-to-remake-the-big-apples-congressional-delegation\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T07:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T11:56:12","slug":"mamdani-tries-to-remake-the-big-apples-congressional-delegation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-tries-to-remake-the-big-apples-congressional-delegation\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani tries to remake the Big Apple&#8217;s congressional delegation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmamdani-tries-to-remake-the-big-apples-congressional-delegation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2617618&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is actively supporting three progressive Democratic candidates-Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Brad Lander-in upcoming House primaries, signaling a push to reshape the city&#8217;s congressional delegation with a more socialist-leaning lineup. Mamdani\u2019s endorsements,which include current and former members of the Democratic Socialists of America,have sparked tensions within the Democratic Party,highlighting ideological divides and causing strains with established leaders. In particular,his backing of Valdez and Avila Chevalier challenges key incumbents like Nydia Velazquez and adriano Espaillat,leading to bitter intra-party conflicts marked by claims of racial and identity-based slurs. Mamdani emphasizes his stance against using racial slurs and promotes a socialist agenda focused on working-class issues. The results of these primaries,scheduled for Tuesday,will gauge Mamdani\u2019s influence beyond city politics and test the effectiveness of his ideological approach. these efforts reflect Mamdani\u2019s broader strategy to expand socialist influence into Congress, despite the risks of electoral setbacks, with some analysts viewing his interventions as part of a longer-term movement within New York politics.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New York City Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11802\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> is putting his political capital on the line in a trio of closely watched <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11272\">House<\/a> primaries, backing a slate of progressive challengers that could reshape the city\u2019s congressional delegation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mamdani has endorsed three progressive Democratic candidates: Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Brad Lander. The New York City mayor wading into the races has set up a broader ideological clash within the party, with two of the candidates being current members of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/socialism\" type=\"link\" id=\"washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/socialism\">Democratic Socialists of America<\/a> and the third being a former DSA member. Mamdani\u2019s backing of challengers to incumbents and allied figures has strained relationships with key Democratic leaders and could test the durability of his coalition.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4619951\/latino-group-gop-midterm-support\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Latino group homes in on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/inflation-is-hitting-voters-who-will-decide-some-key-midterm-races-the-hardest\/\" title=\"Inflation Is Hitting Voters Who Will Decide Some Key Midterm ... the Hardest\">key midterm races<\/a>, hoping to help GOP with Hispanics<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4611267\/new-york-primary-races-to-watch\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>New York races to watch: Which battles could shape the Democratic Party\u2019s future?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4617683\/democratic-socialism-spreading-further-byron-york\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democratic socialism keeps \u2018spreading around further\u2019: Byron York<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With primary voters heading to the polls Tuesday, the results of these races will offer an early measure of Mamdani\u2019s clout \u2014 and whether his brand of politics can translate into wins beyond New York City\u2019s mayoral office.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Basil Smikle Jr., a New York Democratic strategist, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he was not surprised the movement that got Mamdani elected \u201cwould want to grow and expand,\u201d saying that if one has been following New York politics, \u201cyou realize that there have been DSA members that have been elected to the City Council and to the state legislature, so it\u2019s not inconceivable that they would want to, you know, find ways to elect members to Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In New York\u2019s 7th Congressional District, Valdez, a democratic socialist, is competing in an open-seat race against retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez\u2019s (D-NY) chosen candidate, Antonio Reynoso. Mamdani\u2019s endorsement of Valdez has put him at odds with parts of the city\u2019s progressive establishment, including Velazquez.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">FILE \u2013 New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani listens as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci, File)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/06\/localimages\/AP25337692005622.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani listens as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m not going to allow DSA to define who is progressive and who is not,\u201d Velazquez said to the <em>New York Times<\/em>. \u201cBecause the fact that they are here, I paved the way for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further uptown, Avila Chevalier, another democratic socialist, is challenging five-term Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) in the 13th District. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m incredibly excited at supporting two Latina candidates in Darializa Avila Chevalier, who would be the first Afro Latina to represent that district in Congress,\u201d Mamdani said Monday during a press conference. \u201cI\u2019m also excited to be supporting Claire Valdez, who\u2019s running in New York 7. And I think in both of these candidacies, you actually also see a commitment to working people that will uplift them in a city that is the most expensive in the United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avila Chevalier, a political activist who touts her involvement in Columbia University\u2019s pro-Palestinian encampment, is hoping to ride the progressive wave that installed Mamdani as New York City\u2019s mayor. Given her involvement in the anti-Israel movement, Avila Chevalier has highlighted that Espaillat is backed by AIPAC.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Espaillat, a close ally of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), endorsed Mamdani after he won the mayoral primary. The incumbent has significant backing from Democratic groups, including the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Both the Latino Victory Fund and BOLD America political organizations have pledged to boost Espaillat\u2019s bid as well.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., speaks as Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, left, and Rep. Gabe Vazquez, D-Calif., right, listen during a press conference by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, on immigration and border priorities, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/06\/localimages\/AP25037749180620.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) speaks as Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), left, and Rep. Gabe Vazquez (D-CA), right, listen during a press conference by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on immigration and border priorities, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race has become a bitter intraparty fight and is viewed as one of the most competitive primaries in the city. Avila Chevalier accused surrogates for Espaillat\u2019s campaign of spreading accusations that she is not of Dominican descent and is instead Haitian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn the final days of this campaign, I have been hit with attacks that use Haitian as a slur, a coordinated wave of Islamophobia, lies about my identity, my faith, and my family. Espaillat supporters are standing at poll sites in our district, shouting lies and slinging racial slurs,\u201d Avila Chevalier claimed in a video posted to Instagram.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mamdani condemned the rhetoric as well, saying, \u201cI understand that in our city there will be a variety of opinions when it comes to which candidate to support and which district to be involved in. One thing I do want to make clear, that I find unacceptable in our city, is the attempt to use the term Haitian as a slur. The trafficking and anti-black sentiment and narratives that we have seen specifically in New York 13 when it comes to Darializa Avila Chevalier is something that I cannot stand here and say is in line with the values of this city.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>reached out to Espaillat\u2019s campaign for comment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, left, speaks on stage with fellow candidate Comptroller Brad Lander at his primary election party, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo\/Heather Khalifa)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Mamdani-2025-scaled.webp?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;683&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, left, speaks on stage with fellow candidate, Comptroller Brad Lander, at his primary election party, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo\/Heather Khalifa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Lander, a former DSA member, is mounting a left-wing challenge to Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) in the 10th District. Mamdani\u2019s partnership with Lander started during last year\u2019s mayoral campaign, where the two men cross-endorsed each other in hopes of boosting their campaigns. Their political partnership included talks of working together at City Hall, but Mamdani <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/11\/14\/nyregion\/mamdani-lander-dan-goldman.html\">reportedly<\/a> instead pushed Lander to launch a congressional bid against Goldman.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taken together, the endorsements represent a coordinated push by Mamdani to expand the influence of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >democratic socialist-aligned lawmakers<\/a> beyond City Hall and into Congress. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-test-epstein-class-attack-on-trump-allies\/\" title=\"Democrats test &#039;Epstein class&#039; attack on Trump allies\">strategy carries political risk<\/a>, as eyes will be watching to see if Mamdani\u2019s endorsement can carry his chosen candidates across the finish line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4619302\/zohran-mamdani-renews-call-abolish-ice-not-cooperate-fear\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4619302\/zohran-mamdani-renews-call-abolish-ice-not-cooperate-fear\/\">ZOHRAN MAMDANI RENEWS CALL TO ABOLISH ICE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smikle Jr. said even if Mamdani\u2019s chosen candidates lose, it\u2019ll only be a \u201ctemporary setback.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe DSA will still be there, and they\u2019ll still run races, but maybe focus more locally on the council and state [legislature],\u201d he said. \u201cBut I would also make the point, he\u2019ll still be mayor, and he\u2019ll still wield a lot of powers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mamdani backs progressive challengers in key House primaries<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2617619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mamdani-nyc-primaries.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4402,60672,56552,32120,5894],"class_list":["post-2617618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congress","tag-congressional-delegation","tag-mamdani","tag-new-york","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mamdani-nyc-primaries.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2617618"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617618\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2617622,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617618\/revisions\/2617622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2617619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2617618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2617618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2617618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}