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Three NYC Progressives to Win Congressional Races

Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, and Darializa Avila Chevalier are projected to win their midterm races after defeating incumbents in June primaries.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections

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Progressive Democrats Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, and Darializa Avila Chevalier are projected to win New York City congressional seats on November 3 after defeating incumbents in June primaries. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Progressive Democrats Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, and Darializa Avila Chevalier are projected to win their midterm congressional races on November 3, 2026. All three secured party nominations in June after defeating established incumbents in Democratic primaries.

Why it matters

The projected wins would add three progressive voices from New York City to Congress, with the candidates sharing platforms on abolishing ICE, ending US military aid to Israel, and establishing a Medicare for All-style healthcare system. Their campaigns were shaped by the Israel-Gaza conflict, which dominated the primary against incumbent Dan Goldman.

The projections are forecasts ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterm vote, not final results. The outcome depends on the general election, which has not yet taken place.

The players

Claire Valdez

Valdez is a former union organiser and state assemblymember running for Congress in New York City.

Brad Lander

Lander is a former New York City comptroller who lost the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary and later backed Zohran Mamdani.

Darializa Avila Chevalier

Avila Chevalier is a candidate whose advocacy was shaped by a 2014 internship in Nablus in the occupied West Bank.

The details

Valdez, a former union organiser and state assemblymember, Lander, who previously served as comptroller, and Avila Chevalier secured their nominations in June. Lander's campaign against Goldman was dominated by the Israel-Gaza conflict, and two weeks before the election Israeli forces detained him in the occupied West Bank, where he was volunteering for an olive harvest.

Timeline

  1. 2014: Avila Chevalier completes an internship in Nablus, West Bank.

  2. 2025: Lander loses the Democratic mayoral primary.

  3. June 2026: The three candidates secure party nominations after primary victories.

  4. Two weeks before the election: Israeli forces detain Lander in the occupied West Bank.

  5. November 3, 2026: Midterm election in which the candidates are projected to win.

Political Context

The projected wins follow the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, which Lander lost before he turned to a congressional campaign. The three candidates' progressive platforms, including abolishing ICE and ending US military aid to Israel, mark a departure from positions held by the incumbents they defeated.

If elected, the three candidates would represent New York City districts in Congress and could influence federal policy on immigration enforcement, military aid, and healthcare. Voters in those districts will decide the outcome at the polls on November 3, 2026.

The takeaway

The projected wins would test whether progressive platforms on immigration, foreign policy, and healthcare can gain ground through congressional races in New York City. Voters' choices on November 3 will determine whether these candidates reach Congress.

What happens next

The general election takes place on November 3, 2026, when the final results of the three congressional races will be determined.

Further reading

Explore more on Elections coverage for New York City.

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Should the U.S. keep sending military aid to Israel?