Mayor Zohran Mamdani flexes influence in New York City's congressional primaries with 3 big wins, CBS News projects
Updated on: June 24, 2026 / 12:01 AM EDT / CBS New York
TL;DR
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed three progressive candidates in New York City's Democratic congressional primaries.
- All three endorsed candidates – Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier – are projected to win their primaries.
- These wins are a major victory for democratic socialist Mayor Mamdani and signal a warning to establishment politicians.
- Voter dissatisfaction with politics as usual and a desire for younger, progressive candidates are cited as reasons for these outcomes.
- The victories could impact November's general election and the re-election campaigns of figures like Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer.
- Valdez won in the 7th Congressional District, Lander in the 10th Congressional District (defeating an incumbent), and Chevalier in the 13th Congressional District (also defeating an incumbent).