New York's congressional primaries on Tuesday are showcasing the Democratic Party's emerging divisions over artificial intelligence regulation, immigration enforcement, and U.S.-Israel relations, while also serving as a critical test of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's political strength and the socialist left's influence.
Mamdani's Endorsements and Key Races
Mayor Mamdani has endorsed three congressional candidates: former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, and democratic socialists Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier. Lander, once Mamdani's amicable rival in the mayoral race, is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman from the left in New York's 10th District. Valdez is running for an open seat in the 7th District, while Avila Chevalier seeks to unseat Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th District.
Some of Mamdani's former allies find themselves on the opposing side. Espaillat, a five-term incumbent and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, endorsed Mamdani in the general election after backing Andrew Cuomo in the primary. Antonio Reynoso, the Brooklyn borough president running against Valdez in the 7th, was an early Mamdani supporter.
Reynoso vs. Valdez: A Battle of Progressive Factions
Reynoso was handpicked by retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, a key Mamdani endorser who has represented the 7th District since 2013. Both Reynoso and Velázquez are aligned with the Working Families Party (WFP), which is progressive but distinct from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The WFP is closer to Sen. Elizabeth Warren's wing of the Democratic Party, while the DSA is more akin to Sen. Bernie Sanders's movement.
In an interview, Reynoso emphasized coalition-building as a key difference. “The gap is coalition. We learned very young in the progressive movement — the first question they ever ask of you is, can you build coalitions?” He noted that his endorsements include tenant association presidents, unions, and groups like Make the Road New York and Churches United for Housing. “The coalition helped get Mamdani elected, and it’s the coalition carrying me right now.”
Velázquez, when asked if Mamdani's endorsement of Valdez constituted a betrayal, said, “I have respect for Mayor Mamdani. His victory was historic. DSA didn’t win that election — a coalition did, and I was part of that coalition.” She added, “We agree on most of what matters. We make different choices in this race, but that’s the nature of politics.”
Experience vs. Ideology in the 7th District
Velázquez defended Reynoso's experience, noting his roots in the district and his work against the political machine. “He co-founded New Kings Democrats to challenge the party bosses, and he took down Vito Lopez, one of the most powerful machine bosses this borough has ever seen.” She argued that the DSA's attempt to cast Reynoso as an establishment candidate is misleading.
Reynoso rejected the notion that experience is a liability. “Bernie Sanders has more seniority than almost any senator, and he’s still beloved. There’s something different between time and work. I passed arguably one of the greatest legislative records in my eight years on the City Council.” He highlighted his work on immigration enforcement, Rikers Island, Black maternal health, and tenant safety.
Reynoso also stressed his personal background: “I’m a poor kid from the south side of Williamsburg. I was raised on food stamps and Section 8. It’s my lived experience. That’s my north star.”
Implications for the Democratic Party
The primaries represent an opportunity for Mamdani and the socialist left to gain a foothold in some of the country's bluest districts. However, the race in the 7th District demonstrates internal friction. The outcome will signal whether the DSA's ideological purity or the WFP's coalition-building approach prevails, and how much influence Mamdani can exert beyond his mayoral base.
