Mamdani looks to flex political muscle in key New York House primaries 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is looking to use his political power to reshape New York’s congressional delegation less than six months after taking office. 

The popular mayor has made endorsements in multiple contests ahead of Tuesday’s House primaries in New York, including for progressive challengers to two sitting Democratic congressmen. One of these picks has even put him at odds with his fellow progressives on Capitol Hill. 

The primaries will offer an early test of Mamdani’s influence after his historic rise to become the leader of the country’s largest city. 

“His honeymoon period as mayor has continued. He’s doing well right now,” said New York Democratic strategist Trip Yang. “He’s taking risks intentionally.” 

Mamdani has enjoyed a series of recent political and policy successes while in office. He has partnered with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to accomplish key initiatives, including the establishment of a “pied-à-terre” tax on property owners with second homes worth more than $5 million. They recently unveiled an expansion of free childcare to 2-year-olds in New York City too.  

The mayor is also riding a high coming off the New York Knicks’s NBA championship victory last weekend, having emerged as a top cheerleader for the team. And he’s sought to use that momentum to advance his progressive vision. 

Shortly after the Knicks won the first game of the NBA Finals, an ad featuring Mamdani aired on New York television. It showed Mamdani passing a basketball to three of his endorsed candidates — former city Comptroller Brad Lander, community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier and New York Assembly member Claire Valdez. 

Lander is seeking to unseat two-term Rep. Dan Goldman (D), while Avila Chevalier is aiming to oust longtime Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D). Valdez is running in a competitive open primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez. Mamdani, joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), held a get-out-the-vote rally alongside the candidates in Brooklyn........

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