House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) suffered a blow Tuesday night after far-left congressional hopefuls defeated his preferred candidates in three New York primary election races.
Wins by socialists Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez in the Empire State’s 13th and 7th congressional districts, respectively, along with left Israel-critic Brad Lander’s victory in New York’s 10th District, could complicate Jeffries’ path to retaining the Democratic leadership post – and potentially the speakership – after the November midterm elections.
Jeffries endorsed defeated incumbent Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) for re-election in the 10th and 13th districts – both of whom had pledged to fall in line behind Jeffries if Democrats reclaimed the majority.
Lander, a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America who beat Goldman, has signaled that while he’s inclined to support Jeffries, he intends to “hold leadership accountable, and hold our party accountable, and hold myself accountable.”
“Progressive and moderate Democrats, across the whole spectrum, are going to have to have consensus behind a leader. And you’re not going to agree with that leader on every issue. And there are moments, therefore, when you have to stand unified, and there are moments when you have to be willing to speak up courageously when you don’t think people are fighting hard enough. And I’m committed to that,” he said in February.
Meanwhile, Avila Chevalier refused to commit to backing Jeffries during a debate earlier this month.
In the open 7th district race vacated by Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Jeffries opted not to formally endorse a candidate per custom, but touted the coalition behind Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
“Nydia Velazquez and a coalition of very progressive Democrats, including Tish James, the attorney general, and the public advocate Jumaane Williams, along with the Working Families Party and many of the unions that we’ve worked closely with are on one side of that race, with DSA on the other. We’ll see what happens,” the Democratic leader said during a press conference just a few hours before Reynoso lost to Valdez.
Like Avila Chevalier, Valdez would not say whether she would be a yes to keep Jeffries as Democratic leader next year, while Reynoso said he would support the Brooklyn Democrat.
Lander, Avila Chevalier and Valdez — who were all endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani — will be heavily favored in their general election races come November, and stand to add to the growing far-left and socialist bloc in Congress – which could create a myriad of other political headaches for Jeffries or another House Democratic leader.
Self-styled Democratic Socialist state Rep. Chris Rabb won Pennsylvania’s Third Congressional District primary last month, powered by endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and other lefty “Squad” Democrats.
Like the trio of New York lefties, Rabb is heavily favored to win his November race.
Socialist Sacramento City Councilwoman Mai Vang could also be seated in Congress next year if she defeats longtime incumbent Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) in California’s 7th District runoff in November.
Another race to watch is the June 30 Democratic primary in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, where at least one recent poll shows 29-year-old, DSA-endorsed candidate Melat Kiros ahead of incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) by 5 percentage points.
