Mamdani’s progressive allies vie for seats in Congress

In June, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani rallied support in Brooklyn for Claire Valdez, Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who went on to win their Democratic primaries for the midterm elections. Lander, a former city comptroller, defeated Congressman Dan Goldman in a race where Israel was the defining issue; community organiser Avila Chevalier unseated longtime Congressman Adriano Espaillat. Valdez, a New York State Assembly member and Democratic Socialists of America member, won the primary to succeed retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez. Their heavily Democratic districts make them likely to win seats in Tuesday’s election.