Zohran Mamdani claims prized scalp as pro-Israel Democratic incumbent is routed in New York

By NIKKI SCHWAB, CHIEF CAMPAIGN CORRESPONDENT Published: 02:11, 24 June 2026 | Updated: 02:22, 24 June 2026 New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's gamble to push the New York Congressional delegation even further to the left paid off Tuesday night with an early win.  Mamdani backed a trio of democratic socialist candidates in an attempt to oust two sitting Democrats and fill an open Congressional seat in safely Democratic districts.  In New York's 10th Congressional District, which encompasses Lower Manhattan and the western portions of Brooklyn, Zohran targeted Representative Dan Goldman and instead endorsed former city comptroller Brad Lander.  Lander had an early win, with NBC News calling the race for him less than 10 minutes after polls closed. A moment later, CNN called the race for Lander while the candidate was live on-air.  The former city comptroller was leading Goldman by more than 25 points when the race was called.   Goldman was first elected to Congress in 2022 after working as a federal prosecutor.  He's the heir to the Levi Strauss fortune.  Goldman was lead counsel during President Donald Trump's first impeachment, the 2019 saga over Trump's call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requesting investigations into Hunter and future President Joe Biden.  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (left) campaigns alongside Brad Lander (right), a former city comptroller who is trying to unseat Democratic Representative Dan Goldman  Representative Dan Goldman was ousted from Congress Tuesday night, losing a primary to Brad Lander, who had the backing of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani  Lander previously ran against Mamdani in last year's mayor's race, but the two progressives cross-endorsed each other in an attempt to box out former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who used the mayoral primary to try to rehabilitate his political career.  Now, Mamdani is repaying Lander for his political support by backing his Congressional bid.  Goldman, who is Jewish, never endorsed Mamdani in the New York City mayor's race, citing concerns about rising antisemitism.  Lander, who is also Jewish, used Goldman's support for Israel amid the war in Gaza as a political sticking point.  Goldman and Lander are on opposite sides of the issue of whether Israel committed 'genocide' in Gaza, with Goldman saying he has seen no evidence.  Mamdani also targeted incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat, who has represented New York's 13th Congressional District for nearly a decade. It covers parts of Manhattan and the Bronx.  Early returns showed that race would be a nail-biter.  Espaillat, 71, is the first Dominican American to serve in Congress and currently chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (center right) backed a trio of democratic socialists including (from left) Claire Valdez, Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed democratic socialist candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who's had to apologize for previous social media posts  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani targeted incumbent New York Representative Adriano Espaillat in the race to represent New York's 13th Congressional District The mayor backed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old daughter of Dominican immigrants who works as an investigator at the public defender's office and is studying for her doctorate.  The race has been heated with spats revolving around deleted social media posts and mouthy advisers.  In the past, Avila Chevalier has expressed support for abolishing the police, prisons, and the border and wrote 'f*** Kamala Harris' after the then-Vice President said Guatemalan migrants shouldn't come to the US in 2021, according to a CNN report. Avila Chevalier also questioned Israel's right to exist.  She's since apologized for the postings, but Espaillat pounced.    'This is not just some common statement that was made when you were a young person, a teenager, an adolescent. This was just a couple of years ago,' the sitting congressman told CNN. 'And I think it's irresponsible for someone that has a chronically irresponsible social media to go to Congress.'  'Words really matter,' he added.  On Monday, City & State reported that one of Espaillat's advisers had made racist comments about Avila Chevalier, pushing that the Muslim democratic socialist was working with Mamdani to replace Dominicans in Washington Heights with Haitians and Muslims.  New York State Assemblymember and Democratic congressional candidate Claire Valdez got the backing of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to replace retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders appeared at a New York City event alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to show his support for the trio of democratic socialists the mayor is trying to send to Congress  In the open seat to replace retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez in New York's 7th District, which encompasses parts of Brooklyn and Queens, Mamdani backed state Assembly member Claire Valdez.  The district is so left-leaning it's been nicknamed the 'Commie Corridor.'   Velázquez gave her blessing to a different candidate: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.  Valdez, 36, is of Mexican and Native American heritage and has been serving in the New York State Assembly since 2025 after previously serving as a union organizer.  She worked in low-wage jobs and moved to New York City in 2015 to pursue becoming an artist.   Valdez was also an early backer of Mamdani's mayoral run.  She had an early lead in that race over several primary opponents.  The comments below have not been moderated. 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