Mamdani Endorsed Candidates Win Primary Elections
Three progressive congressional candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani secured primary victories across New York.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Elections
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani saw his endorsed candidates win their respective Democratic primary races in New York's 10th, 7th, and 13th congressional districts. The victors now head to the upcoming midterm elections to compete against their Republican challengers.
Why it matters
These results highlight the growing influence of progressive platforms and ongoing tensions between activist-aligned candidates and establishment-backed Democratic incumbents.
Brad Lander secured 66% of the vote in the NY-10 primary, while Claire Valdez won 56% in NY-07 and Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat with 49.5% of the vote, a margin of less than 4%.
The players
Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani is the Mayor of New York City who endorsed the winning congressional primary candidates.
Brad Lander
Brad Lander is a former New York City Council member and comptroller who secured the Democratic primary nomination for NY-10.
Claire Valdez
Claire Valdez is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who won the Democratic primary in New York's 7th district.
Darializa Avila Chevalier
Darializa Avila Chevalier is a Democratic Socialists of America member who unseated an incumbent in the NY-13 primary.
Adriano Espaillat
Adriano Espaillat is a veteran congressman who held office for nearly a decade before his loss in the 2026 primary.
The details
Brad Lander, who previously served on the City Council and as city comptroller, unseated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman. Meanwhile, Democratic Socialists of America members Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and the long-serving Rep. Adriano Espaillat, respectively.
Timeline
Rep. Dan Goldman was first elected to office in 2022.
Brad Lander participated in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary.
The candidates won their Democratic primary elections in 2026.
Political Context
These primary victories mark a shift in momentum for the candidates following the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, where Brad Lander finished with 23% of the vote. Opposing factions have raised concerns that these results undermine the broad-tent coalition historically favored by establishment Democrats.
Voters in these districts will now see new candidates on their midterm ballots, signaling potential shifts in federal policy representation. Residents should prepare for upcoming debates as the focus turns to the general election contests against Republican opponents.
The takeaway
The recent primary success of progressive candidates underscores a changing political landscape within the city's Democratic Party. Voters can prepare for the general election by reviewing the platforms of the newly nominated candidates and their Republican challengers.
Further reading
For more on local races, visit the New York City Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 5 New York.
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