NEW YORK — Several progressive Democratic candidates who campaigned on pro-Palestinian positions secured high-profile victories in New York’s congressional primaries on Tuesday, defeating establishment-backed rivals and reshaping the political landscape ahead of the November midterm elections, according to election results and projections from major U.S. media outlets.
Among the most closely watched races, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated incumbent Representative Dan Goldman in a Democratic primary contest in New York City. In another upset, Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Representative Adriano Espaillat, while Claire Valdez won an open-seat contest backed by progressive activists and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The victories marked a significant success for Mamdani, whose endorsements were viewed as a test of the influence of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. All three candidates were backed by the mayor and campaigned on issues including housing affordability, immigration policy and criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Questions surrounding Israel and the Palestinian cause featured prominently throughout the primary campaigns. Several of the winning candidates criticized U.S. policy toward Israel and called for stronger protections for Palestinian civilians. Their opponents, including incumbent lawmakers and establishment-backed candidates, argued that their own positions better reflected mainstream Democratic views and support for Israel’s security.
At a victory gathering on Tuesday night, Lander credited grassroots organizing for the outcome. “This is a victory for people-powered politics,” he told supporters, according to media reports.
The results drew attention from Democratic leaders in Washington, where divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have become increasingly visible since the escalation of the conflict in Gaza. The New York contests were widely viewed as an early indicator of how Democratic voters are responding to debates over U.S. policy in the Middle East and the direction of the party under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Not all Democratic contests favored progressive candidates. In New York’s competitive 17th Congressional District, voters selected Cait Conley as the Democratic nominee to challenge Republican Representative Mike Lawler in one of the party’s top general-election targets.
With most primary ballots counted, the progressive candidates who prevailed on Tuesday are expected to advance to the November general election. Election officials continue to process remaining ballots, and final certified results are expected in the coming weeks.
