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New Yorkers are heading to the polls in a Primary Day that could reshape the state’s representation in Washington. It also marks the first major test of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political influence and his ability to mobilize voters.
He endorsed three left-of-center candidates: Claire Valdez in the 7th Congressional District, Brad Lander in the 10th Congressional District, and Darializa Avila Chevalier in the 13th Congressional District.
It’s a high-stakes bet for Mamdani because his decision to back the three candidates and their attempt to defeat sitting Congressmen Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat crossed a lot of high-powered Democrats, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez.
“I think what we see in these candidacies is a referendum on whether the kind of leadership we have is the one that is serving the people of the city,” Mamdani said. “It’s not just a question of electing more Democrats, it’s a question of electing better Democrats.”
With voter turnout a concern, the mayor was trying to use his own popularity to get the people who supported his mayoral campaign to go to the polls, which is why, experts say, he has been attacking AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group. Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel sentiment was a motivating factor in Mamdani’s election victory.
Goldman, who has been repeatedly slammed by Lander on the issue, was clearly frustrated and upset, saying that the AIPAC attack could lead to more antisemitism.
“Just because you oppose the [Israeli] government does not mean that you should oppose the country, and that gets conflated,” he said. “And then it gets applied and taken out on American Jews.”
Meanwhile, New York City Councilman Phil Wong filed a complaint with the Conflicts of Interest Board, charging that it was unethical for Mamdani to use his city car and security detail to travel with Chevalier. The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
