Three congressional candidates endorsed by New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani have won their Democratic primaries, signalling his growing influence within the party. Brad Lander, a progressive ally of Mamdani, easily defeated the more moderate incumbent Democrat Dan Goldman in New York's 10th congressional district. Mamdani attended Lander's victory party in Brooklyn, where they embraced on stage.
In New York's 12th congressional district, self-described 'nerd' Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary to replace retiring congressman Jerry Nadler. Lasher defeated Kennedy grandson Jack Schlossberg and state representative Alex Bores. Schlossberg urged Democrats to field more frank and inspiring candidates, warning that without change the party would 'keep on losing'.
Claire Valdez, another Mamdani-backed candidate, defeated Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso in New York's 7th congressional district and is now likely to win the general election. Darializa Chevalier, a third Mamdani-backed candidate, won the Democratic nomination in New York's 13th congressional district.
In other results, US army veteran Cait Conley won the Democratic primary in New York's 17th congressional district and will face vulnerable Republican incumbent Mike Lawler. In South Carolina, Nancy Lacore, a three-star navy rear-admiral fired by defence secretary Pete Hegseth, won the Democratic nomination in a runoff for a closely watched congressional race.
