New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) took establishment, centrist Democrats out to the woodshed Tuesday. They drubbed them at the ballot box in three closely-watched primaries, announcing to the Democratic machine political operators in Washington, D.C., that they better watch their backs because the next wave of left-wingers is coming to town.
Israel was a major focus of all the Mamdani and DSA-backed campaigns. Whereas one incumbent, Rep. Dan Goldman, stood by Israel and was even kicked out of a Brooklyn coffee shop for those views, his opponent, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, accused the Israeli government of committing genocide in Gaza. Landers won handily. The other two candidates, both fierce critics of Israel, won easily. Darializa Avila Chevalier knocked down incumbent Adriano Espaillat, sealing a five-point victory over the five-term congressman. New York state Rep. Claire Valdez, who will replace outgoing Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez, breezed past her opponent, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Velasquez’s preferred successor.
What Does This Mean For Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leadership?
The New York City revolution Tuesday night certainly does not bode well for the Democratic Party’s establishment creatures. When a candidate who once said “Fuck Kamala Harris“ barnstorms into Congress, you know you have a problem. Long story short, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has long been positioned to pick up the speaker’s gavel if the Democrats retake the House in November, is royally cooked and may not be Nancy Pelosi’s heir after all.
It what can only be described as an Orwellian “two minutes of hate” session, the largely white crowd at a Valdez election party in Bushwick, New York, erupted into chants of “You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!” when Jeffries’ face popped up on a television.