New York races to watch: Which battles could shape the Democratic Party’s future?

New York voters head to the polls on Tuesday, June 23, in a series of closely watched primaries that could reverberate far beyond the Empire State.

While all 26 of New York’s congressional seats will be on the ballot in November, much of the attention this week is centered on Democratic primaries in New York City, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani is attempting to translate his political popularity into influence over races with national consequences. 

Several open seats and incumbent challenges have become testing grounds for the Democratic Party’s ideological divide, pitting socialists and progressive activists against establishment Democrats. Meanwhile, Democrats are also eyeing key pickup opportunities in the Hudson Valley as they look to reclaim control of the House of Representatives.

Democrats hold 19 of New York’s 26 congressional seats.

Mamdani’s kingmaker test

No figure looms larger over this year’s Empire State primaries more than Mamdani. After his rise to City Hall energized the party’s left flank, the mayor threw his weight behind a slate of progressive candidates, turning several races into a referendum on the strength of New York’s socialist movement.

Mamdani released a basketball-themed ad ahead of the NBA Finals in recent weeks, elevating his chosen “team” 

“Get out and vote. This is the team. This is our year,” the mayor said.

MAMDANI TEAMS UP WITH PROGRESSIVE ALLIES FOR BASKETBALL-THEMED CAMPAIGN AD AHEAD OF KNICKS GAME

New York’s 12th Congressional District

The retirement of longtime Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) leaves one of the city’s most influential congressional seats open for the first time in decades.

The crowded field initially featured more than a dozen candidates, but four contenders have emerged as the most serious competitors.

State Assemblyman Micah Lasher has positioned himself as Nadler’s heir apparent, touting years of experience advising top Democratic officials. Lasher secured Nadler’s endorsement and has benefited from millions of dollars in outside support from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Fellow Assemblyman Alex Bores has built his campaign around regulating artificial intelligence and leveraging his background in technology and data analytics. His candidacy has attracted significant attention from tech-industry donors and super PACs.

Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, entered the race with perhaps the highest name recognition. His campaign has generated widespread media attention.

George Conway III, the conservative attorney and longtime Trump critic, switched parties to run in the district. Conway has centered his campaign almost entirely on opposition to President Donald Trump, though his Republican background could prove difficult to overcome in one of the country’s most Democratic districts.

The winner will inherit one of the most high-profile platforms in Congress. The district includes some of Manhattan’s wealthiest neighborhoods and serves as home to many of the Democratic Party’s largest donors and media influencers.

Goldman faces a challenge from the left

Incumbent Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY), a former federal prosecutor who helped lead Trump’s first impeachment inquiry, is facing perhaps the most serious challenge of his congressional career.

Goldman has maintained a reliably liberal voting record, but his strong support for Israel has become a focal point in the race amid ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party over the conflict in Israel.

His challenger, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, has staked out positions further to Goldman’s left and has built support among voters critical of Israel. Lander also ran in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary for New York City, where he forged an alliance with Mamdani. Both candidates endorsed each other on the ranked choice ballot, with Lander finishing third behind former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Lander took aim at Goldman when announcing his Mamdani endorsement.

“My opponent couldn’t bring himself to endorse Zohran as the Democratic nominee in the general election, even when the alternative was serial sexual harasser Andrew Cuomo,” Lander wrote on X.

Lander was also recently acquitted of a federal misdemeanor charge filed over his involvement in an anti-ICE protest at a Manhattan immigration court last year.

The Velázquez successor fight

The retirement of Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) after three decades in Congress has sparked another high-stakes contest in New York’s 7th Congressional District, a deep blue Brooklyn and Queens seat sometimes called “Commie Corner.”

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso entered the race as a favorite, armed with strong local ties, a progressive record, and Velázquez’s endorsement.

But Assemblywoman Claire Valdez has emerged as a formidable challenger. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Valdez has argued that elected Democrats have not gone far enough in addressing affordability and economic inequality. Valdez has been boosted by Mamdani becoming one of her most prominent allies, helping raise money, offering strategic guidance, and campaigning on her behalf.

Espaillat’s Challenge

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the first formerly undocumented immigrant elected to Congress, is also facing a primary challenge from the left.

His opponent, activist Darializa Avila Chevalier, has criticized Espaillat’s positions on Israel and sought to capitalize on anti-establishment sentiment among progressive voters. The race gained national attention when Mamdani abandoned earlier plans to support Espaillat and instead endorsed Avila Chevalier, who helped lead pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

While Espaillat remains favored, the margin of victory could provide insight into how much appetite Democratic voters have for replacing longtime incumbents.

Democrats target the Hudson Valley

Outside New York City, one of the most consequential races in the country is unfolding in the Hudson Valley. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) has survived two difficult election cycles by cultivating a reputation as a pragmatic Republican willing to break with his party.

This year, however, Democrats believe the political environment may be more favorable. Army veteran and cybersecurity expert Cait Conley and local legislator Beth Davidson have emerged as leading contenders in the Democratic primary, while nonprofit executive Effie Phillips-Staley is running on a progressive platform.

A Republican battle upstate

In northern New York, Republicans are battling over who will succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who announced her retirement after failing to secure a nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Political newcomer and businessman Anthony Constantino, known for erecting a massive “Vote for Trump” sign atop his company’s headquarters, has become the favorite after receiving Trump’s endorsement.

REPUBLICANS BUILD MIDTERM CONVENTION AROUND TRUMP TO BOLSTER TURNOUT

Anthony Constantino, a Republican candidate for Congress, stands in front of a “Vote for Trump” sign on the roof of his printing company, Sticker Mule, in Amsterdam, New York, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Hill)

“Politically, I didn’t expect to be running for office,” Constantino said recently. “I just wanted to fight for the president. And then people asked me to run, I talked to a guy named Roger Stone about it, he encouraged me to do it. This was during the special election. And it’s been going well ever since; I’ve won every poll.”

His chief rival is Assemblyman Robert Smullen, a former Marine backed by many state Republican leaders. Constantino is currently facing a defamation lawsuit stemming from allegations he made against the chairman of New York’s Conservative Party.

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