Zohran Mamdani-Backed Candidates Win Three NYC Democratic Congressional Primaries, Target AIPAC

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsed candidates won three Democratic congressional primaries on Tuesday night, with crowds at victory parties chanting “Free Palestine” and taking aim at House Democratic Party leadership.

“New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has doubled down on his criticism of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) after being asked whether calling the pro-Israel lobbying group “monsters” could be dangerous”

Al Jazeera

The Times of Israel reported that Mamdani told a crowd, “A year ago, it was not the end of a political movement — it was the beginning,” referring to his upset victory in last year’s mayoral race.

Al Jazeera

The same Times of Israel account said the primaries put Mamdani-backed candidates on a glidepath to Congress in November, with Israel described as a central issue in each race.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency framed the results as a “big coming-out for the party’s leftmost flank,” with Jewish power centers shifting as left-wing and anti-Zionist candidates notched victories over pro-Israel incumbents.

Responsible Statecraft added that Brad Lander (N.Y.-10), Claire Valdez (N.Y.-7), and Darializa Avila Chevalier (N.Y.-13) prevailed on Tuesday night, defeating sitting House members and making the U.S. relationship with Israel and AIPAC funding central to the campaigns.

Mamdani doubled down on criticism of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, telling reporters at City Hall that AIPAC was “an organisation that has been supportive of the status quo” and “fought any attempt to actually deliver safety to people.”

Al Jazeera also reported that Mamdani said AIPAC moves “millions in dark money” and linked the lobbying group to the political fight in New York’s 13,” while CBS News described his remarks as blaming AIPAC for “the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza.”

CBS News

CBS News quoted Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz saying, “He's turning to AIPAC and saying, 'AIPAC desires genocide.'” and added that Jewish leaders called the remarks reckless and tied them to antisemitism.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said Lander “chose to use Israel as a wedge issue in this election, dividing Jewish voters,” and she noted that Lander’s stance included calling for ending aid to Israeli defense systems including the Iron Dome.

In a separate dispute, World Israel News described how a Poetica Coffee post said it would have refused service to Dan Goldman and wrote, “We issued you a refund—we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways).”

The stakes for the Democratic Party in New York’s primaries were tied directly to November and to how Jewish leaders interpret the party’s direction, with Jewish Telegraphic Agency noting that the future relationship with Israel “has never seemed more in question.”

“The New York Democratic primaries were a big coming-out for the party’s leftmost flank — and a wake-up call for Jews in the city and beyond”

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries congratulated Brad Lander and gave a “salute” to Goldman, while also noting that Soifer said Lander’s Iron Dome stance would be “a roadblock to collaboration.”

Responsible Statecraft said the three primary winners put themselves on a glidepath to Congress in November, and it described Lander’s nearly two-thirds win in the 10th district as driven by differences over Israel and association with AIPAC.

The Times of Israel reported that Chevalier’s opponent Adrianno Espaillat and Lander’s rival Dan Goldman were described as solid candidates, but were seen as too close to Israel and not supportive enough of Mamdani.

Looking ahead, Al Jazeera said the results would determine which challengers the party nominates to run in the midterm elections in November, and it noted that AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, made two contributions last month totaling more than $600,000 to BOLD America supporting Espaillat in New York’s 13th District.