New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani isn’t on any ballot Tuesday, but he’s one of the most important figures in the day’s elections. The mayor has thrown his support behind three far-left candidates connected to the Democratic Socialists of America, who are challenging two established Democratic incumbents — Representative Adriano Espaillat in the Bronx and Representative Dan Goldman in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan — while a third candidate backed by Mamdani is competing for an open seat in Queens.
Both Espaillat and Goldman supported other candidates during the mayoral race, and Mamdani views them as not being tough enough in their stance toward Israel during its ongoing conflict with Hamas. Prominent democratic socialists in national politics include Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose congressional district covers parts of the Bronx and Queens.
Mamdani’s involvement puts him in direct conflict with House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, another powerful New York political figure. Jeffries, who would become third in line to the presidency if Democrats recapture the House in November, has a vested interest in protecting Democratic incumbents.
New York, Maryland, and Utah are all holding primaries Tuesday, while South Carolina is hosting runoffs the same day.
Mamdani’s Challengers
The three candidates Mamdani is championing are Darializa Avila Chevalier, Brad Lander, and Assembly Member Claire Valdez. Avila Chevalier, who is both an activist and a doctoral student, is running against Espaillat — a five-term congressman who leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — in a district that stretches across northern Manhattan and into the Bronx.
Lander, a former New York City comptroller who also ran for mayor, is challenging Goldman in Lower Manhattan. Goldman, a former federal prosecutor, became well known for leading House Democrats’ investigation into the first impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Valdez is competing in a crowded race for the seat being vacated by retiring Representative Nydia Velazquez, whose district covers portions of Brooklyn and Queens. Her opponents include Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and New York City Council Member Julie Won.
The results in these three races won’t change Democrats’ chances of winning the House majority, but they will serve as a measure of Mamdani’s political reach and the broader strength of the democratic socialist movement.
A Vulnerable Republican Learns His Opponent
Republican U.S. Representative Mike Lawler, who holds a district that Kamala Harris carried in 2024, will discover his Democratic general election challenger on Tuesday. The leading Democratic contenders include Cait Conley, a combat veteran and national security expert who is part of a group of female veterans called the “Hell Cats” running for office, and Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson.
Lawler’s lower Hudson Valley district is one of just three Republican-held seats in areas Harris won, making it a prime target for Democrats hoping to flip the House in November. Harris won the district by only 0.6 percentage points, though Lawler himself won reelection by 6 percentage points. Despite a favorable national political climate for Democrats, Lawler is expected to start the general election with a cash advantage of between $3 million and $4 million over whoever wins the Democratic primary.
A Kennedy, a Conway, and Two Lawmakers Battle for Manhattan Seat
A packed Democratic field is competing to replace retiring Representative Jerry Nadler in his Manhattan district. The contenders include two state Assembly members, an attorney whose former wife was a top adviser to President Trump, and a grandson of President John F. Kennedy.
A recent Emerson College poll showed Assembly Members Micah Lasher — a former aide to Nadler — and Alex Bores essentially tied. Both were well ahead of attorney George Conway, whose ex-wife Kellyanne Conway served as a Trump adviser during his first term, and Kennedy family member Jack Schlossberg. Conway and Schlossberg were polling in the low double digits, but nearly one in three likely primary voters remained undecided, leaving the door open for a surprise outcome.
Stand for New York PAC, a super PAC funded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has poured more than $10 million into supporting Lasher. A pro-artificial intelligence super PAC called Think Big has spent close to $8 million in opposition to Bores, who has the backing of three other super PACs.
Schlossberg, 33, is the wild card in the race. Despite a limited professional background, he has built a significant social media following, with more than 850,000 followers on TikTok — a profile that echoes Mamdani’s own digital popularity. Whoever wins this primary will be heavily favored to win the congressional seat in November.
Trump Backs Both Candidates in South Carolina Governor’s Runoff
South Carolina voters are deciding their likely next governor in a runoff between Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson. Trump had initially endorsed Evette, but late last week he signaled to South Carolina Republicans that either candidate would be acceptable.
“These were the two that I was hoping would get into a Runoff, and they did,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I can’t hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other, so, therefore, I am going to Endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson!”
Trump’s endorsement record has been mixed recently. While he successfully pushed out Republican Senators John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy and Representatives Thomas Massie and Nancy Mace, two of his gubernatorial picks have fallen short. Earlier this month, Iowa voters rejected Trump-backed Representative Randy Feenstra in favor of businessman and farmer Zach Lahn. Last week, Georgia voters chose billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson over Trump-endorsed Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.
The winner of the South Carolina runoff will face Democratic state Representative Jermaine Johnson in the general election, though the Republican is expected to prevail in a state Trump won by 18 percentage points in 2024.
