DSA Eyes 2 NYC House Pickups in June 23 Primaries as Mamdani Tests His Clout
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 17
DSA Eyes 2 NYC House Pickups in June 23 Primaries as Mamdani Tests His Clout
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 17
Summary
Two Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates — Claire Valdez in the open 7th District and Darializa Avila Chevalier against Rep. Adriano Espaillat — have turned New York City’s June 23 primaries into a test of the group’s post-2025 momentum.
A sweep would double the number of self-identified DSA members in Congress from 2 to 4 and strengthen the group’s claim that Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win created a broader constituency for democratic socialist politics.
The races also expose risks: Valdez faces criticism that the DSA is becoming a political machine, while Avila Chevalier has been hit by attacks over old social media posts and conflicting polls in her challenge to Espaillat.
Bernie Sanders plans to rally with both DSA candidates and former Comptroller Brad Lander, whose separate left-flank challenge to Rep. Dan Goldman underscores how these primaries have become a wider referendum on New York Democrats’ ideological direction.