Monday marked the final full day of campaigning ahead of New York’s congressional primary, where a rising progressive movement is squaring off against the Democratic establishment in several high-profile races.
The contests have emerged as a measure of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political reach — a test of whether the young democratic socialist can channel the momentum from his mayoral campaign into reshaping the city’s representation in Congress.
Mamdani has thrown his weight behind three House candidates, appearing in campaign videos and co-hosting a rally last week alongside U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to energize support for his endorsed picks ahead of the vote.
“The party of the past will not be what leads us into the future. We need a Democratic Party with backbone,” Mamdani declared on the campaign trail.
In a separate race drawing considerable attention, Jack Schlossberg — the 33-year-old grandson of former President John F. Kennedy — is banking on his famous family name and a large social media following to win a congressional seat representing part of Manhattan.
Schlossberg faces a competitive field, however. Among his opponents are Alex Bores, a state Assembly member who has become a flashpoint in a big-money battle involving Silicon Valley over his push to regulate artificial intelligence, and Micah Lasher, also a state Assembly member, who brings extensive New York government experience and the backing of many of the state’s top Democratic leaders. Attorney George Conway, once married to a prominent Trump adviser before becoming a vocal critic of the former president, is also running in the contest.
In the campaign’s closing days, Schlossberg appeared at a rally with David Letterman, the former longtime host of “The Late Show with David Letterman,” while his mother, Caroline Kennedy, recorded a campaign advertisement on his behalf. Lasher took to the streets to connect with voters directly, and Bores released an ad highlighting the risks of artificial intelligence while drawing attention to the millions of dollars tech industry giants are pouring in to stop his campaign.
Mamdani has stayed out of that particular race, choosing instead to focus his energy on three other congressional contests — two of which involve sitting members of Congress facing serious challenges.
Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist whose campaign has gained momentum with the mayor’s endorsement, is taking on U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat. Espaillat made history as the first Dominican American elected to Congress and represents a district covering northern Manhattan and a portion of the Bronx.
Espaillat has attempted to paint Avila Chevalier as unfit for office by highlighting inflammatory social media posts she made in her 20s. During a recent debate, Avila Chevalier acknowledged the posts and expressed regret, offering an apology specifically for one offensive comment she made about former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Former city Comptroller Brad Lander has also earned Mamdani’s backing as he seeks to unseat fellow Democrat U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman. Lander was spotted in the crowd at Thursday’s City Hall celebration honoring the Knicks’ NBA championship and has leaned into his relationship with the mayor throughout the campaign. Goldman, who chose not to endorse Mamdani during the mayoral race, has focused instead on touting his record of accomplishments in Congress.
Rounding out Mamdani’s endorsed slate is Claire Valdez, a former state Assembly colleague and democratic socialist ally. Valdez is competing against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez. Both Valdez and Reynoso hold progressive views and share much common ground on policy, though Valdez has positioned herself as a potential partner for Mamdani once in Washington.
