Democratic socialists battle progressives in New York House primaries - AOL
By: Caroline Vakil (AOL. com)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A pair of Democratic House primaries in New York City are pitting liberals against leftists as a pair of democratic socialists battle against progressive candidates Tuesday.
Democratic socialist candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who are both endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, are running against liberal candidates Antonio Reynoso and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) in contests roiled by special interest money and divides over Israel.
The races have showcased fault lines between the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the left wing of the Democratic Party, placing Mamdani on the opposite side of some of his fellow progressives in Albany and on Capitol Hill.
"What we are trying to drive home is that we don't need more people with just good ideas in office," Grauce Mausser, NYC-DSA co-chair, told The Hill.
"There are a lot of people in Congress who have good ideas. There are a lot of people who identify as progressive," she said. "There are not a lot of people who are committed not only to organizing their colleagues in Congress, but to building up a movement outside of Congress in order to truly shift and change political conditions."
The fight over the direction of the party's left flank has taken center stage in New York this election cycle with democratic socialists looking to capitalize on a slew of recent electoral victories in the Big Apple in addition to cities like Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The winners of Tuesday's primary contests are expected to easily win their general elections in November, given the city's reliably blue leanings.
In New York's 7th Congressional District — held by retiring progressive Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D) — Valdez, a New York State Assemblymember and democratic socialist, is running against Reynoso, the progressive Brooklyn Borough President. New York City Council Member Julie Won and public defender Vichal Kumar are also vying for the seat representing parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
Valdez and Reynoso have secured endorsements from Democrats and organizations that in most other circumstances would unite behind the same candidate. Valdez has support from the NYC-DSA, Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), while Reynoso is supported by Velazquez and the New York Working Families Party.
A similar dynamic is playing out in the 13th Congressional District held by Espaillat, who's fending off democratic socialist challenger Avila Chevalier, a PhD student and investigator at a Harlem public defender's office. Espaillat caucuses with the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
In the Democratic primary for a seat that covers parts of the Bronx and Manhattan, Espaillat has the backing of a mix of both progressives and centrists, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), New York Attorney General Letitia James, Velazquez and the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, according to Politico. Avila Chevalier, meanwhile, is backed by Mamdani and the NYC-DSA.
The NYC-DSA has not endorsed former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive, in the Democratic primary against Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), who caucuses with Congressional progressives, in the 10th Congressional District. Mausser, however, said many DSA members are supportive of Lander, who became a key ally of Mamdani after his own unsuccessful mayoral run last year.
The New York Working Families Party is supporting both Reynoso and Lander, who do not identify as democratic socialists. Co-Director Jasmine Gripper pointed out that their organization doesn't always align with the DSA and the two groups have different missions.
"The political project of the Working Families Party is not simply socialist, it's electing Working Families champions," Gripper said.
Beyond the partisan labels, the rifts between the races districts have focused less on major policy differences and more on the influence of outside spending and candidates' positions on Israel and the war in Gaza.
Valdez has made Reynoso's delay in calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza a "genocide" a point of contention, while also attacking him for taking contributions from the real estate sector. Both Reynoso and Won have criticized Valdez for shifting her position on super PAC contributions too.
The battle between Lander and Goldman has largely focused on Israel as well, with the former criticizing the incumbent's stance on the war in Gaza. Goldman has support from establishment Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Hochul.
Avila Chevalier and Espaillat, meanwhile, have ripped each other over outside spending pouring into the race. Espaillat has come under fire over reports that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has sought to support Espaillat in the race.
Yet, Adin Lenchner, a New York City-based Democratic strategist, suggested that the primary focus in these races is "more around the authenticity of the candidates themselves, how they are talking about the issues and the kinds of campaigns that they're building."
"To see so many different compelling versions of a progressive future playing out, giving voters real opportunity and choices about the kind of politics they want to build, is an amazing one," he said.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Democratic Socialists won congressional primaries in three New York districts tonight.
The MAGA right will now, instantly start demonizing these people.
Mamdani wants to lessen or even drastically limit the influence of billionaires. Eventually most Americans will come around to that.
World Cup — who are you rooting for to win it all?"
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D): "Mexico"
Darializa Chevalier (D): "Senegal"
The party that hates America....
Are any Italian Americans pulling for Italy? Any Irish Americans pulling for Ireland? any British Americans pulling for England? I think that is very likely.
Are you going to accuse such people of hating America ?
Hmmm. Weren't you really mad about some Americans not rooting for an athlete who openly despises America in the Olympics? And now you are justifying our leaders rooting against America for no other reason than they actually like other countries more?
While it would be extremely bad form for an Italian American congressman to root for Italy over America, how many Italian Americans are rooting for Germany to beat America, do you think? But hey, rooting against America wins votes in Democratic primaries.
I think you are twisting yourself into a pretzel.
Pointing out your pretzeling doesn't neccistate any twisting on my part.
You realize these America haters don't even come from the countries they are rooting for, right?
The party that hates America....
cheveliar is a co founder of CUAD, whose stated intentions is to “undermine and eradicate America,” through the use of “violence in America.”
here’s they are chanting “death to America”
she can’t possibly take the oath of offfice honestly. Yet democrats voted for her.
They really can’t object to being called the party that hates America.
Rep. Paul Gosar’s lengthy ties to White nationalists, pro-Nazi ... - CNN
Gosar is now facing scrutiny over his ties to extremists after speaking via video at a conference organized by White nationalist Nick …
Does Paul Gosar organize a group whose goal is to undermine America through the use of violence and marches in support of the ayatollahs while chanting death to America?
You think that compares to appearing by video at a conference organized by a youtube idiot? That's the best deflection you can up with?
Will you ever denounce the members of your party who openly want to destroy America?
There are far more elected right wing extremists than left wing extremists. Are you ever going to address that?
I seriously doubt I would vote for anyone who thinks "death to America" is a plan, but if the choice was them or Trump it would be a dilemma.
Not sure that is the case, both sides have plenty of wing nuts. But if yesterdays election results are an indication of the direction of the dem party voting for any dem is becoming harder and harder.
are far more elected right wing extremists than left wing extremists.
That’s just crazy talk. The democrats are now eating their own extremists, much like the French Revolution. we’ve gone from liberals to someone who:
wants to abolish the police, celebrated the October 7th attacks, is a communist, and openly states her hatred for the United States. She’s not a one-off or fluke either. This is the new Democratic Party. It only gets worse from here.
Rich white democrats, her base, now openly hate America. Crazy times.
I think you have extreme tunnel vision.
In the United States there are far more elected right wing extremists than left wing extremists.
11:48am
New chat
Your statement is supported by recent data and expert analyses: In the United States, there are far more elected officials associated with right-wing extremism than left-wing extremism.
Key Findings from Recent Research (2024–2026):
Elected Representation: While there is no comprehensive, up-to-date public database tracking the exact number of elected extremists by ideology, the overwhelming majority of political violence and extremist activity in the U.S. has been linked to the far right. For example, the Anti-Defamation League found that all 61 political killings in the U.S. from 2022 through 2024 were committed by right-wing extremistsen.wikipedia.org.
Party Affiliation: The Republican Party has seen a significant shift rightward, with some members (e.g., Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar) openly associated with far-right or extremist positions, such as election denialism, white nationalism, or conspiracy theories. In contrast, there are no comparable left-wing extremists in Congress or major state legislatures. The Democratic Party’s left flank (e.g., "The Squad") is progressive but not classified as extremist by mainstream political science or law enforcementen.wikipedia.org+1.
Local and State Level: At the local level, there have been cases of right-wing extremists winning elections, particularly in school boards, sheriff’s offices, and city councils, often running on platforms tied to far-right movements (e.g., Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, or Christian nationalism). Left-wing extremist candidates (e.g., open anarchists or revolutionary socialists) are extremely rare in elected officeen.wikipedia.org.
Why the Disparity?
Right-Wing Extremism: Far-right movements in the U.S. have been more successful at infiltrating mainstream politics, often by running as Republicans or independents. Their platforms (e.g., anti-immigration, anti-LGBTQ+, election denial) have gained traction in certain districts.
Left-Wing Extremism: Left-wing extremist groups (e.g., antifa, anarchist collectives) typically reject electoral politics, focusing instead on direct action or protest. As a result, they have little to no representation in elected office.
Violence vs. Electoral Success
Violence: Right-wing extremists have been responsible for the vast majority of political violence and fatalities in recent years, though left-wing incidents have ticked up slightly in 2025pbs.org+3.
Electoral Success: The number of elected right-wing extremists (or those with extremist ties) outnumbers left-wing extremists by a wide margin, as the latter rarely run for or win office.
Once again AIPAC'S negative and dishonest advertising has backfired just as it did in the NYC Mayor's race. Even New York's Jewish voters rejected AIPAC'S candidates. Another big win for Mayor Mamdani...
Yeah, can't be a Jewish person who supports Israel in the modern democratic party. Doesn't matter how rabidly anti-trump Goldman was. It's the party of SS tattoos now.
It's the party of Platner and terrorist supporters. Michigan's about to nominate a Hamas apologist for the Senate.
you’re wondering about that figure standing at the podium, it was none other than Brad Lander, the controversial candidate in the upcoming Democratic primary for Congress in the 10th district.
After his invocation, Lander launched into a diatribe against Israel, falsely accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza and adding that he also considered the war against Hezbollah to be turning into a “genocide in Lebanon.” After finishing his remarks, the imam of the Al-Khoei Foundation took over, wailing a prayer calling for “the killing of the kafirs (non-Muslims) by the sword
a Jew who supports the killing of other Jews and Christians by Muslims. It’s early days yet, Jewish politicos can hang on by being useful idiots.
Lander (Jewish) has won his primary against Goldman (Jewish)
Lander won the Jewish vote...
Chevalier is sympathetic to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is critical of interracial relationships, called Joe Biden a rapist and believes COVID-19 began in France.
celebrate your team! You must be so proud,
Democrats: elect someone who marches in support of the ayatollahs while chanting “death to America
Democrats: let’s talk about algae in a reflecting pool. That’s what really important
Don't forget calling your opposition a Nazi while supporting a candidate with a Nazi tat. You just can't make up that level of idiocy.
Joe must have left a pair of his depends at the White House.
Poor MAGA! Yet, Joe still had a higher approval than Trump...
DSA settler-colonialists seem to be successfully imposing their alien rule upon the indigenous inhabitants of Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.
from David frum…
hating America and Jews is obviously popular in New York, the colonizers replaced the natives like they hoped. Madani only won in the first place because of immigrants and transplants. Celebrate your team.
Heres another member of your team to fawn over:
Exactly. A Jewish person who doesn’t want to destroy Israel isn’t wanted in the Democratic Party. Your obsession with AIPAC makes that very clear.
How has unfairly attacking Mamdani worked out for AIPAC?
It’s like when the guy with the Nazi tattoo got roasted by fetterman for sending dick picks to kids and his response was to attack fetterman as being a tool of aipac.
making everything about jewish influence is a characteristic shared by the type of people who get SS tattoos.
How has unfairly attacking Mamdani worked out for AIPAC?
AIPAC again…
detecting an obsession here.,,,
Pro-Israel politics just took a huge hit in New York - POLITICO
It isn't me. It is the voters who want AIPAC out of our politics!
Yes. Exactly. Who they voted for (and their obsession with AIPAC) speaks volumes about the type of people they are.
You know, the type of people who have no problem with voting for those with SS tattoos who attack Jewish influence when challenged about sending dick picks to the kids.
that's a good one
The pendulum swings back and forth. Get used to it.
What's the difference between a progressive and a democratic socialist?
Democratic socialists brag about using the American flag to wipe their mouth.
Democrats publicly deny they would do that, while secretly wanting to and voting for those who do it openly.
Democrats went from "Punch Nazis" to "elect Nazis" real quick.