New York celebrates this Tuesday its primaries for the November legislative elections as a plebiscite among Democrats to determine which wing of the party will take the reins of opposition to Donald Trump during the rest of his term and in view of future presidential elections. The importance of the city, one of the most competitive scenarios in the election of candidates for Congress, lies in the capacity of the New York mayor, Zohran Mamdanito translate its political influence into electoral victories for the candidates it supports. In addition, this Tuesday the primary processes also culminate in Utah, Maryland and South Carolina.
Far from representing a rebalancing of power in Congress, the New York primaries put the spotlight on the Democratic Party, which largely dominates these districts. In the last presidential elections, the Democratic vote in the city reached 68.1%compared to the 30% obtained by the Republicans, one of the biggest differences in the country. Therefore, the great unknown is whether Mamdani will manage to consolidate his political power through the victory of progressive candidateswhich could facilitate his relations with the Democrats in Washington, or if, on the contrary, he will spend a bullet.
He internal pulse pits the DSA movement (Democratic Socialists of America), of which Mamdani is a part, with the traditional faction of the party. In this context, the New York mayor referred to these primaries during a mobilization rally with the senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders. “For too long, our party has understood its role as that of managing decline rather than promoting material change for the working class,” said Mamdani, in a call to renew the direction of the party. “The party of the past will not be the one that leads us into the future“he added.
The progressive candidates
Mamdani has offered support to three candidates. Among his endorsements is former New York City Comptroller, Brad Landerwho attends as a representative of the tenth district. Lander was one of the mayoral candidates whom Mamdani defeated last year. However, both aligned against Andrew Cuomo in the final vote, with Lander a key support for Mamdani in capturing the Jewish vote.
Likewise, the New York mayor has supported Darializa Avila Chevalier, educator and immigrant rights activistin her candidacy against Representative Adriano Espaillat in the 13th district. In the seventh district, where Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, with 17 terms under her belt, is retiring, Mamdani has supported the assemblywoman Claire Valdez, who is competing with Velázquez’s preferred candidate to succeed her, the Brooklyn borough president, Antonio Reynoso.
On the contrary, another prominent figure in American politics originally from New York, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezone of the most influential voices of the progressive Democratic wing, has not endorsed any candidatea position he has maintained since 2022, and has defended that, as a member of the New York delegation, it is important to allow these processes “to take their course.”
Familiar faces in Manhattan
Aside from the fight between Democratic factions, the primaries have become a contest of familiar faces in the 12th district of Manhattan, one of the richest in the country. Eight candidates with names of great political, dynastic and media weight come together in the race.
Among the candidates stands out Assemblyman Micah Lasher, backed by outgoing Congressman Jerry Nadler, as well as Governor Kathy Hochul and former New York mayor and Bloomberg founder, Michael Bloomberg. Assemblyman Alex Bores is also competing, former Palantir employee who has become one of the great critics of the artificial intelligence industry after promoting a state technological security law in 2025.
The race also includes lawyer and former Republican George Conway, known for his fierce opposition to Donald Trumpwhich tests the receptiveness of the Democratic electorate towards figures from the Republican Party. Completing the most media group is Jack Schlossberg, 33, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy.
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