{"id":1001,"date":"2026-06-01T20:41:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T20:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1001"},"modified":"2026-06-01T20:41:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T20:41:28","slug":"mamdani-launches-dem-civil-war-with-controversial-endorsement-in-ny-13-house-race-its-a-mistake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1001","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani launches Dem civil war with controversial endorsement in NY-13 House race: ‘It’s a mistake’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has launched a civil war in the Democratic Party with his controversial endorsement of a fellow socialist\u2019s bid to oust incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, insiders said Monday.<\/p>\n

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Mamdani\u2019s decision to support fellow Democratic Socialists of America insurgent Darializa Avila Chevalier in the June 23 primary for the northern Manhattan\/Bronx House 13th House District is part of a long-term effort by him and fellow socialists to take control of the Democratic Party, sources said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn New York City, it\u2019s a civil war in the Democratic Party,\u201d said campaign consultant Evan Roth Smith.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hizzoner\u2019s backing of Chevalier against veteran Espaillat for the party\u2019s nomination will be a \u201ctest case\u201d for expanding the mayor\u2019s and DSA\u2019s influence in the city, Roth Smith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 13th District is an early experiment on how far Mamdani\u2019s popularity goes,\u201d Roth Smith said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs took a shot at Mamdani for turning on Espaillat, a five-term incumbent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a mistake. When you have a good incumbent, stick with him,\u201d Jacobs said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspaillat is an excellent congressman,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve heard from \u00a0a lot people in the Hispanic community and in general who are upset about him going against Espaillat.\u201d<\/p>\n

The seat is overwhelmingly comprised of Hispanic, Latino and black residents and is not considered a DSA stronghold \u2014 unlike the \u201cCommie Corridor\u201d in the 7th and 10th Districts, which are also the sites of heated Democratic primary races.<\/p>\n

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But younger voters who support Mamdani and may be more receptive to backing his insurgent candidate have been moving into the 13th District.<\/p>\n

Mamdani bested Andrew Cuomo in both the mayoral Democratic primary and general election in the 13th District. \u2014 even though Espaillat endorsed the former governor in the primary. Espaillat switched to Mamdani after the mayor won the nomination.<\/p>\n

The mayor is also supporting fellow DSA member Assemblywoman Claire Valdez for an open seat in the 7th District covering the waterfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, considered a DSA stronghold.<\/p>\n

Outgoing longtime Rep. Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez, who is retiring, has endorsed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso against Valdez in the primary.<\/p>\n

Former City Comptroller Brad Lander has also gotten Mamdani\u2019s nod over incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in the DSA-friendly 10th District covering brownstone Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to be mayor\u00a0for four years and maybe eight. They believe in the long game,\u201d Roth Smith said, referring to the far-left group.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Smith noted that Mamdani didn\u2019t get all of the tax hikes he wanted from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature in this year\u2019s budget negotiations \u2014 and wants more representatives in Albany and Congress who are on \u201chis team.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Jacobs said Mamdani was not being a team player by messing with the New York congressional delegation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should not be fomenting dissent in the primaries when we have so much at stake in the general election,\u201d Jacobs said. <\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s an effort by Mamdani to flex his muscles in the city,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see how that turns out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has launched a civil war in the Democratic Party with his controversial endorsement of a fellow socialist’s bid to oust incumbent Rep. 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