The blue Democratic race is shown New York congressional primaries this Tuesdaywhere the high-profile race is already highlighting the party’s emerging divisions over how to manage artificial intelligence, immigration enforcement, and the US-Israel relationship.
The primaries are also an important test of political strength for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and a left-leaning socialist. Mamdani has thrown his weight behind three congressional candidates in particular: former New York City governor Brad Lander and two democratic socialists, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier.
Lander, Mamdani’s (friendly) former opponent in last year’s mayoral race, is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman from the left in New York’s 10th District, while Valdez is running for an open seat in New York’s 7th District. Avila Chevalier, like Goldman, hopes to unseat the incumbent Democrat, Representative Adriano Espaillat, in New York’s 13th.
Some of Mamdani’s former allies, however, have ended up on the wrong side of his game to strengthen his influence over Democratic politics in New York City. Espaillat, a five-term incumbent and chairman of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, endorsed Mamdani before last year’s mayoral election (he had endorsed Mamdani’s opponent Andrew Cuomo in the primary). And Antonio Reynoso, the Brooklyn borough president running against Valdez in New York’s 7th, was an early supporter of Mamdani.
Reynoso is a very important case. He was handpicked by retired Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Mamdani’s top endorser who has represented New York’s 7th District since 2013. But Reynoso and Velázquez are Working Families Party Democrats, not socialist Democrats, and that distinction is increasingly important in Mamdani New York City. (WFP, while it continues, is more akin to Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s wing of the Democratic Party — its national leadership endorsed her 2020 presidential campaign — while DSA is in many ways the child of Sen. Bernie Sanders.)
Mamdani, and the left he comes from, now see an opportunity to make their mark in some of the country’s most upscale districts — and gain a foothold in the Democratic Party in the process. But as the race for New York’s 7th District proves, all will not be smooth sailing.
This weekend, I spoke with Reynoso and Velázquez about what’s at stake in these primaries — and the difference between a progressive and a democratic socialist. I also asked if they felt that Mamdani betrayed their early support by supporting another candidate. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
The mayor endorsed Claire Valdez over you, even though you were her early supporter. How do DSA’s politics differ from yours?
Reynoso: The gap is a union. We learned very young in the progressive movement – the first question they ever ask you is, can you form coalitions? That has always been the core of who we are. DSA is part of a progressive movement, but it is not the only progressive movement. The movement includes the presidents of the tenants’ associations, all of whom have supported me. It includes trade unions, of which I have many. The first person to endorse Zohran Mamdani was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and I have her proof.
The Working Families Association laid the groundwork 20 years ago for the success of a mayor like Mamdani. Letitia James has become the face of the war against Donald Trump. Make the Street New York, United Churches for Housing, Change Communities New York – they are all part of the movement, and the movement is wide and big. The coalition helped elect Mamdani, and it is the coalition that is carrying me right now. They are members of the movement, but not the whole movement.
MP, you were one of Mamdani’s earliest and most important endorsers, but he has not returned the favor here. Is “betrayal” too strong a word?
Velázquez: I respect Mayor Mamdani. His victory was historic. And to the extent that Antonio has just said, DSA did not win the election – the coalition won, and I was part of that coalition. In terms of the mayor and even DSA, we agree on many important things. We’re making different choices in this race, but you know what, that’s the nature of politics.
Consent is one of the few things a member of Congress does as an individual. I did mine based on knowing this district and knowing Antonio Reynoso for decades. I want Zohran to succeed, because she speaks to issues that people care about – affordability, access to quality healthcare, protecting the most vulnerable. For those reasons I support him. On choosing the most experienced, qualified, tested candidate, that is Antonio.
You have spent most of your last time in Congress on this race. Why was it so important to you?
Velázquez: Because this is a person who was born here. He is a child of this community. I was a teacher, I was a professor, and I always told my students: If you work hard and play by the rules, you can make it. That’s what Antonio has done with his life. And it is important to know that he is not an establishment candidate. He has spent his entire career picking up machines.
When I was fighting corruption and party bosses in Brooklyn, Antonio was there fighting with me. He founded the New Kings Democrats to challenge party bosses, and ousted Vito Lopez, one of the most powerful machine bosses in the region. Isn’t that what we need at this point – a fighter who won’t be intimidated by the powers that be?
DSA has tried to position you as an institutional candidate, and somehow, focusing on ideology seems to make “experience” feel like a liability. What would it say if voters look away?
Reynoso: Let’s wait until (June 23) and see. Throughout my political life, the experience has never been a negative thing. People are trying to do dirty things that are very important in the sense of leadership. Bernie Sanders has a higher profile than almost any other senator in the country, and he’s still popular — he’s faultless for his years in office.
There is a difference between time and work. You can be somewhere for a long time and do nothing, but my time is always focused on results. I passed one of the greatest legislative records in my eight years on the City Council – I would challenge any member to put their record against mine. I don’t want to be elected just because I have been in politics for a long time. I want votes because the work I did was valuable.
What is the biggest difference between you and your opponent?
Reynoso: We are in a time where the federal government seems to be dealing with problem after problem after problem. Every day we wake up, and there are unnecessary or illegal wars, there are cuts to (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, there are cuts to Medicaid. What we need is a fighter who can solve the problems that people in this district have.
My history of fighting ICE and Rikers Island, helping immigrants get work permits, my work on Black mothers’ health, my tenant safety legislation – that record means something here. And my faith doesn’t come from reading a story in a book or seeing pain on TV. I’m a poor kid from the south side of Williamsburg. I was raised on food stamps and Section 8 and every government subsidy you can think of. It is my lived experience. That is my north star.
