Progressive Wave Sweeps New York Democratic Primaries

On Tuesday, three progressives won Democratic nominations in New York’s 7th, 10th, and 13th congressional districts. Former NYC comptroller Brad Lander defeated Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th District, nearly doubling Goldman’s vote total. Organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier unseated five-term Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th. State Assemblymember Claire Valdez won the open 7th District, beating Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso. They campaigned on Medicare for All, affordable housing, union protections, and ending U.S. aid to Israel.

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At least seven super PACs, including AIPAC’s United Democracy Project, spent millions supporting the incumbents. Justice Democrats recruited Avila Chevalier, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s slate offered a grassroots alternative to party machines that had neglected working-class needs. The results show a coordinated push to counter corporate and foreign-policy influence in Democratic primaries.

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Winners are Brad Lander, former NYC comptroller; Darializa Avila Chevalier, organizer; and Claire Valdez, state assemblymember. They were backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Justice Democrats. Incumbents were backed by AIPAC United Democracy Project and other corporate-aligned super PACs.

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Lander’s vote total was nearly twice Goldman’s. The districts are heavily Democratic, guaranteeing general-election wins. Super PACs contributed millions to incumbent campaigns.

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Progressives framed the wins as a working-class mandate rejecting corporate politics. Justice Democrats called Avila Chevalier’s victory a “seismic win” reflecting demand for progressive representation. Mayor Mamdani said the primaries mark a broader movement, and Senator Bernie Sanders praised the “landslide victories” as proof of a grassroots surge that can challenge entrenched oligarchic interests.

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Incumbent campaigns, backed by corporate super PACs and AIPAC, emphasized traditional Democratic foreign-policy positions. Their spending aimed to counter progressive messaging, yet the primary outcomes suggest limited effectiveness against organized grassroots mobilization.

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Adding three progressives to the Democratic caucus could shift the House agenda toward social programs and a reevaluation of U.S. military aid to Israel. The wins also increase pressure on “corporatist Democrats” and may shape upcoming battles over health care, housing, and labor rights.

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All three nominees now face November’s general election in districts with Democratic leanings. Their campaigns will focus on turning primary momentum into legislative action on Medicare for All and foreign-policy reforms. Progressive groups will watch the outcomes as a barometer for future primary strategies.

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• “Today we make it clear: The politics of the past end today.” — Darializa Avila Chevalier, Candidate

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• “What we have delivered here today is a clear mandate that the era of taking a check and cashing a check and calling it representation is over.” — Darializa Avila Chevalier, Victory Speech

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• “Let’s hear it for a politics that will never forget working people.” — Zohran Mamdani, Mayor, Valdez Victory Party

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• “Together, we are creating a grassroots progressive movement that will defeat the oligarchs.” — Bernie Sanders, Senator, Social Media Post

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