Mamdani-Endorsed Candidates Win New York House Elections

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsement slate delivered a perfect Election Day record, as all three progressive Democrats he backed in New York’s June primary captured their congressional seats in safely blue districts, ABC7 New York reported. ABC News projected victories for each candidate, giving the incoming mayor a trio of allies poised to take office in January. The Associated Press contributed to the reporting.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed three progressives for Congress, and all three won their blue districts on Election Day, ABC News projects. Two of the three winners are democratic socialists, a label that marks a distinct leftward turn for districts that have historically sent mainstream Democrats to the House.

Claire Valdez Succeeds Nydia Velázquez in the 7th District

State Assembly Member Claire Valdez won New York’s 7th Congressional District, defeating Republican Melvin Rivera and Priscilla Ghaznavi in Tuesday’s general election. Valdez secured the seat after first winning a competitive Democratic primary against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, positioning herself to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who held the district for decades.

The 7th District victory marks Valdez’s transition from the state Assembly in Albany to Washington, where she will represent a constituency that has long been a progressive stronghold. Her primary win over Reynoso demonstrated the organizational strength of the coalition Mamdani mobilized during the June 18, 2026 primary, when all three candidates campaigned together with the mayor’s backing.

Mamdani-backed candidates win New York Democratic primaries

Darializa Avila Chevalier Defeats Incumbent Adriano Espaillat

In one of the night’s most significant political shifts, Darializa Avila Chevalier captured New York’s 13th Congressional District by defeating Republican Jomo M. Williams. Chevalier, a democratic socialist who has never held public office, had already unseated incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the June primary, ending the veteran congressman’s tenure in a stunning upset.

Before her congressional run, Chevalier helped organize pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, activist experience that shaped her approach to politics. Her victory in the 13th District gives the democratic socialist movement another foothold in Congress from New York City, adding to the ranks of progressive lawmakers from the five boroughs.

Brad Lander Wins the 10th District

Former city comptroller Brad Lander completed the trifecta by winning New York’s 10th Congressional District against Republican Jennifer Moore. Lander, who served as the city’s chief financial officer before launching his congressional bid, defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in the Democratic primary before securing the general election victory in November.

Reshaping the City’s Congressional Delegation

Together, the three victories mean New York City will send three new faces to the House in January, replacing Velázquez, Espaillat, and Goldman. All three candidates endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their congressional races on Election Day.

The June primary had already shown the changing political conditions when Chevalier and Lander defeated two sitting House members, while Valdez advanced to succeed Velázquez. Mamdani’s active campaigning alongside the three candidates in the weeks leading up to the June 18 primary helped consolidate progressive support behind their candidacies.

Mamdani-Endorsed Candidates Win New York House Elections

The Republican candidates—Rivera in the 7th, Williams in the 13th, and Moore in the 10th—faced difficult terrain in districts where Democratic voters vastly outnumber GOP supporters. Their defeats highlight the challenge Republicans face in New York City’s urban congressional districts, where Democratic primaries often determine the ultimate winner long before Election Day.

The three Mamdani-backed winners are Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander.