New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is testing his political influence in key congressional races as early voting gets underway ahead of the June 23 primary, backing three progressive candidates challenging establishment Democrats in competitive contests.
Mamdani has endorsed Brad Lander in New York’s 10th Congressional District, Claire Valdez in the 7th District, and Darializa Avila Chevalier in the 13th District. The mayor, who is not on the ballot himself, featured all three in a television advertisement that aired during the NBA Finals, signaling his intent to reshape New York’s congressional delegation with democratic socialist allies.
The endorsements pit Mamdani against sitting incumbents. In the 13th District, Mamdani backed Avila Chevalier over Congressman Adriano Espaillat, whom he had previously clashed with over policy. In the 10th District, Lander faces off against Congressman Dan Goldman, who has maintained professional distance from the mayor despite their disagreements. In the 7th, Valdez competes against several candidates, including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, whom Mamdani did not endorse.
Mamdani’s endorsement strategy reflects his effort to advance a progressive slate aligned with his vision for New York. “There are things where we disagree or where I think we might need to push him further left,” Reynoso said of Mamdani’s approach to endorsements, according to reporting from ABC7 New York. Valdez, a democratic socialist and Assembly Member, has framed her campaign around labor and economic justice issues central to Mamdani’s political movement.
The June primary will serve as an early test of Mamdani’s power as a newly elected mayor. His endorsements carry symbolic weight and resources from his political network, though whether that translates to victory for his chosen candidates remains uncertain. Early voting turnout in New York City primaries has historically been low, making awareness-raising a critical challenge for all campaigns.
Mamdani’s focus on congressional races extends his influence beyond his city office. He has also endorsed state legislative candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, positioning himself as a kingmaker for the progressive left in New York politics.
Sources
- ABC7 New York — Reported on Mamdani’s congressional endorsements and their impact on key races in the 7th, 10th, and 13th Districts.
- Spectrum News NY1 — Covered Mamdani’s endorsement of Lander, Valdez, and Avila Chevalier with early voting underway.
- The Guardian — Analyzed Mamdani’s political influence and endorsement strategy in the 2026 primary season.
