I am over the moon: All 3 Mamdani-backed candidates projected to win NY primaries. [View all]

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nyc-congressional-primary-zohran-mamdani-endorsements/

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in an effort to get more like-minded political allies in Washington, endorsed three left-of-center candidates in the congressional Democratic primaries covering the city, including two who were running against sitting congressmen. CBS News projected all three — Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier — will win their primaries.

Warning sign for establishment politicians

It was a major victory for Mamdani, a democratic socialist. When campaigning Tuesday, Mamdani said it was not a question of electing more Democrats, it was a question of electing "better Democrats." CBS News New York political reporter Marcia Kramer says that in effect, he was tapping into recent a poll finding that New York voters were fed up with politics as usual and were ready to clean house.

Half of the respondents in a poll by the Honan Strategy Group said they favored electing a new generation of younger, more progressive candidates willing to challenge the party establishment. Kramer says these victories are blaring warning sign for establishment politicians like Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. It means voters are tired of the dysfunction in Washington and the inability of Democrats to stand up to what some see as the excesses of the Trump administration.

It also means that some long-serving politicians — like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has been in the Senate for 27 years — will have a target on his back when he is up for reelection in 2028. It could provide the impetus for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is projected to win her primary, to challenge Schumer if he decides to seek reelection.

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