Full Breakdown
New York Democratic Primaries Spotlight Progressive Surge and Israel-Policy Divide
6/23/2026, 1:25:52 AM
Progressive vs. Establishment Showdown in Key Congressional Races
The June 23 Democratic primary will decide the party’s nominees for several New York districts that could tip the balance of the U.S. House after the 2026 midterms. In the 10th District (Lower Manhattan and western Brooklyn), former city comptroller Brad Lander challenges incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman. In the 13th District (Upper Manhattan and the Bronx), Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed community organizer, contests long-time incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat. In the 7th District (Queens and Brooklyn), DSA-endorsed Claire Valdez runs against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. A centrist contest also unfolds in the 12th District, where Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, seeks the nomination to replace retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler.
Background & Context: From Mayoral Upset to DSA Momentum
The races follow Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 victory as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, a win achieved through a ranked-choice pact with Lander that ousted former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani’s endorsement of Lander and other DSA-aligned challengers signals a coordinated push to shift the Democratic Party leftward on issues such as police reform, immigration, and U.S. aid to Israel.
Data & Statistics: Early Voting and Poll Snapshots
Early voting ran June 13-21, delivering 136,867 votes citywide (Manhattan 55,221; Bronx 12,034; Brooklyn 40,938; Queens 26,015; Staten Island 2,659). Polls released in the week before the primary show Lander with a lead over Goldman, while Avila Chevalier trails Espaillat but has narrowed the gap. In the 7th District, Valdez and Reynoso remain statistically tied, and in the 12th District early surveys shifted from a Schlossberg lead to a contest between Alex Bores and Micah Lasher.
Official Statements & Responses
- Brad Lander labels Israel’s Gaza offensive “genocide,” calls the occupation “apartheid,” and advocates a U.S. weapons ban to Israel while affirming Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
- Dan Goldman rejects the genocide claim, opposes the BDS movement, and highlights a bipartisan “Robinhood Act” aimed at taxing ultra-wealthy tech CEOs. He emphasizes his role in overseeing Trump-related oversight.
- Gov. Kathy Hochul and AIPAC endorse Goldman; Sen. Bernie Sanders and Working Families Party back Lander.
- Espaillat stresses his immigrant-background credibility and incremental reform, while Avila Chevalier emphasizes police, prison, and ICE abolition, and defends her attendance at a pro-Palestine rally after the Oct 7 2023 Hamas attack.
- Valdez and Reynoso both support ICE abolition and ending U.S. military aid to Israel, differing on labor-union endorsements and personal political histories.
Criticism & Opposition
- Pro-Israel groups criticize Lander for investing NYC pension funds in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defense contractor.
- Avila Chevalier faces scrutiny for past tweets disparaging former Vice President Kamala Harris and for her protest attendance, prompting a Super PAC aligned with AIPAC to spend heavily against her.
- Espaillat attacks Avila Chevalier’s social-media record, framing her as inexperienced.
- Goldman dismisses Lander’s claim of being a “corporate Democrat,” labeling it “meaningless” while defending his tax-reform legislation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I agree we need to advocate much more aggressively for our working families. That's what I have been doing and that's what I am prepared to do by making billionaires pay their fair share so that we can pay for programs like universal childcare, which is absolutely essential,” — Dan Goldman
- “He is actually a longtime politician who is using much of the same playbook that people don't like about career politicians.” — Dan Goldman
- “I will be in a position to lead the oversight and accountability of Donald Trump ... I'm uniquely qualified to do this in all of Congress because it is exactly what I have done for my career,” — Dan Goldman
- “[Lander] doesn't understand how Congress works. He has had a long career in city politics.” — Dan Goldman
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the magnitude of Lander’s poll lead: one report describes a “significant lead,” while another notes “tight margins.” Final vote tallies remain unavailable, leaving the exact competitive landscape unresolved.
What’s Next
The primary outcomes will shape the Democratic slate for the 2026 midterms, influencing which party controls the House and how aggressively the party will pursue progressive policies on Israel, tax reform, and criminal-justice overhaul.
