Key Takeaways
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsed progressive slate swept three closely watched House primaries, boosting his influence within the Democratic Party.
- Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier each defeated establishment incumbents or favored successors in New York districts.
- Despite the left‑wing surge, moderate Democrats held onto key swing districts on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, setting up competitive November contests.
- Republican loyalty to Donald Trump remained strong, as Trump‑backed Anthony Constantino secured the GOP nomination in an upstate New York seat.
- Elsewhere, Maryland saw Adrian Boafo win a crowded primary to replace retiring leader Steny Hoyer, while Utah’s Brad McAdams won a newly drawn Democratic‑friendly district and South Carolina’s Alan Wilson clinched the Republican gubernatorial runoff after a Trump endorsement shift.
Mamdani’s political muscle was on full display in New York City on Tuesday, as three candidates he publicly backed won their Democratic primaries. Brad Lander, the former city comptroller who had previously run for mayor before throwing his support to Mamdani, cruised to victory over incumbent Representative Dan Goldman. Lander’s win was framed as a rejection of the “old politics” that, in his view, contributed to the city’s current crises.
In the 7th Congressional District, which spans parts of Brooklyn and Queens, state lawmaker and former union organizer Claire Valdez defeated Antonio Reynoso, the hand‑picked successor of retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez. Valdez’s victory underscored the growing clout of Mamdani’s alliance with labor‑backed progressives.
The biggest upset came in the 13th District, covering Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, where public‑defense investigator Darializa Avila Chevalier toppled five‑term incumbent Adriano Espaillat, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Chevalier’s win was described as a stunning upset, signalling that even long‑standing establishment figures are vulnerable to a well‑organized left‑wing challenge.
Mamdani celebrated the trio’s successes at separate watch parties, declaring that the prevailing political approach would not resolve the city’s challenges. With all three candidates poised to win the general election in November, Mamdani has effectively reshaped New York’s congressional delegation and amplified his progressive movement within the state Democratic Party.
While the left flank made headlines, moderate Democrats also secured important victories. On Long Island, freshmen Representatives Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen easily defeated primary challengers, positioning themselves to defend swing‑district seats that could be pivotal in the national battle for House control. In the Hudson Valley’s 17th District—a seat that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 yet elected a Republican—former White House counter‑terrorism official Cait Conley won a competitive Democratic primary to take on incumbent Mike Lawler. Conley framed her campaign as a grassroots effort, stating, “No one is coming to save us; we are the cavalry.” The district remains one of the few nationally where a Democratic presidential vote coexisted with a Republican House representative, making it a key target for both parties in November.
Republican loyalty to Donald Trump showed little erosion elsewhere in New York. Anthony Constantino, who received Trump’s explicit endorsement, won the GOP primary in the upstate 21st District, defeating state assemblyman Robert Smullen. Constantino is now favored to capture the seat vacated by Elise Stefanik, whom Trump had previously nominated for UN ambassador before withdrawing the nomination. Stefanik’s abortive gubernatorial bid the previous year further underscores the former president’s sway over the state’s Republican infrastructure.
Beyond New York, primary results reflected a mix of establishment endurance and insurgent energy. In Maryland, Adrian Boafo prevailed in a crowded field to succeed retiring House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer, besting former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and businesswoman Quincy Bareebe. Meanwhile, incumbent April McClain Delaney fended off a costly challenge from her predecessor, David Trone, who had sought to reclaim the 6th District after an unsuccessful Senate run. The Maryland race ranked among the most expensive House primaries in U.S. history.
Utah’s newly drawn, Democratic‑friendly 4th District saw former congressman Brad McAdams—a self‑described moderate—win the primary, setting him up as the favorite in a district designed to bolster Democratic prospects.
In South Carolina, Attorney General Alan Wilson secured the Republican gubernatorial runoff after a late‑stage endorsement shuffle by Trump, who initially backed lieutenant governor Pamela Evette before ultimately supporting both candidates. In the state’s 1st Congressional District, three‑star Navy rear‑admiral Nancy Lacore—removed from her post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—defeated Coast Guard veteran Mac Deford in the Democratic runoff, positioning herself as a strong challenger in a traditionally Republican seat.
Overall, Tuesday’s primaries highlighted a Democratic Party torn between a rising progressive wing, galvanized by figures like Mamdani, and a pragmatic moderate contingent seeking to hold swing districts. Simultaneously, Trump’s continued dominance within the GOP was evident in his successful endorsements and the resilience of his base, setting the stage for a highly contested November election across multiple fronts.