Three progressives advance to congressional races in New York

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political influence extends into the congressional races as three endorsed candidates secure their party’s nomination.

The three progressives won their Democratic primaries in June, positioning them for the general election scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Mamdani rallied support for the group in June at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre, where he urged voters to elect candidates who would expand his progressive agenda. The event featured chants for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, taxing the wealthy, and supporting Palestine. Within days of that rally, all three candidates had defeated their primary opponents.

Brad Lander, the former New York City comptroller, defeated incumbent Dan Goldman. The campaign focused heavily on the Israel-Palestine conflict, a key issue in a district with one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States. Lander described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide and its occupation of Palestinian territory as apartheid. He also identifies as a Zionist who supports pro-Palestinian activism. Two weeks before the general election, Israeli forces detained Lander in the occupied West Bank while he volunteered in the olive harvest. Israeli authorities subsequently revoked his travel documents for a planned return visit.

Darializa Avila Chevalier, a community organizer, unseated longtime Congressman Adriano Espaillat. Her platform, titled Babies Not Bombs, proposes redirecting military spending, including aid to Israel, toward domestic priorities like childcare and healthcare. She interned at a youth organization in Nablus in 2014, which shaped her advocacy for Palestinian communities. Avila Chevalier stated that budgets are moral documents and resources should support dignified living rather than war.

Claire Valdez, a New York State Assembly member and Democratic Socialist of America member, won the race to succeed retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. Her background in the labor movement informs her support for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which would make union organizing easier. She also backs national rent control and a government-run healthcare system. Valdez noted that public programs have faced attacks from the right and that advancing a vision for these entitlements will be a top priority.

The three candidates share common goals, including abolishing ICE and ending US military aid to Israel. Their districts are heavily Democratic, making victory in Tuesday’s election likely. However, turning campaign promises into policy requires navigating congressional dynamics. Progressive strategist Nomiki Konst advised the candidates to find immediate legislative wins to build credibility, similar to Mamdani’s initial focus on filling potholes.

Lander aims to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks to restore public trust. He also seeks to restore enhanced government subsidies that expired at the end of 2025, which had lowered premiums for private insurance buyers. Lander suggested using the budget process to force Republicans to vote on these issues. Avila Chevalier plans to advance her Babies Not Bombs agenda, while Valdez prioritizes passing the PRO Act.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez set a precedent for progressive New Yorkers in Congress after winning her seat in 2018. In 2025, she worked with Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna to introduce legislation capping credit card interest rates at 10 percent. This bipartisan effort echoed proposals from Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Josh Hawley. Konst noted that compromise is necessary for legislative success.

Avila Chevalier faces scrutiny after calling for the resignation of New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Tisch was appointed on the recommendation of Governor Kathy Hochul, whose support was vital for Mamdani’s mayoral campaign. Avila Chevalier made the call after a man was shot by ICE in his car while his child was in the backseat. She also stated she was shoved to the ground by police during protests following the incident. Avila Chevalier said she is willing to work with anyone to advance shared priorities, including healthcare transformation and a moratorium on data centers.