NEW YORK — Progressive candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won key Democratic primaries in New York on Tuesday, defeating two incumbent members of Congress and securing another seat in a series of victories that highlighted continued influence of the party's left wing.
The results came in congressional races across New York City districts, where Mamdani-endorsed challengers prevailed. Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist, defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th District. Former City Comptroller Brad Lander ousted Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th District. Claire Valdez won the open 7th District seat.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist who won the mayoralty the previous year, endorsed the three candidates. Their successes were described by multiple outlets as a sweep for progressive forces.
The primaries, held on June 23, tested the balance between progressive and more centrist elements within the Democratic Party ahead of the November general elections. Progressive and socialist candidates also performed strongly in several state legislative races in New York City.
Incumbents Espaillat and Goldman had served multiple terms in the House. Details on final vote margins varied slightly across early reports but confirmed the challengers' leads.
"This achievement demonstrates the strength of our coalition," Mamdani said in statements following the results, according to coverage of the outcomes.
The contests reflected broader debates within the party over policy priorities, including issues related to housing, immigration and economic equity. Some races saw discussions of foreign policy differences, though specific impacts on voter decisions were not detailed in initial reporting.
Not all progressive efforts succeeded statewide, with some incumbents holding positions in other contests. The Democratic primaries in New York are closed, limiting participation to registered party members.
Party officials and analysts monitored the outcomes for signals about voter sentiment. Multiple incumbents retained their nominations in other districts, indicating varied results across the state.
As of Wednesday, vote counting continued in some down-ballot races, with officials certifying results in coming days. The winners are expected to face Republican opponents in the general election in heavily Democratic districts. Further primary results from other parts of New York were still being finalized.
