Republicans are seeking to use Zohran Mamdani’s apparent win in New York City’s Democratic primary to put Democrats on defense in House and Senate races ahead of 2026.

A number of House Democrats facing competitive reelection bids have already moved to distance themselves from Mamdani, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) stopped short of endorsing Mamdani following his win on Wednesday.

Mamdani’s affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America, coupled with other far-left-leaning views is giving Republicans fodder to target Democrats in New York and beyond.

“Every Democrat in America is going to have to answer for these insane positions,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) told The Hill. “They own him. This is how radicalized their party has become.”

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) tied progressives in Minnesota and Michigan to Mamdani in a statement following his presumed win on Wednesday.

“The grassroots Democrat energy behind socialist Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and radical Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota is a serious threat to everything Americans elected President Trump and Senate Republicans to protect,” said NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez.

In a separate statement, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) said every “vulnerable House Democrat will own” Mamdani.

Reps. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who are both........

© The Hill