2 Democratic Power Players ‘Agree to Strongly Disagree’ Over a New York House Primary

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is backing Rep. Adriano Espaillat against a challenger endorsed by the NYC mayor, with early voting underway.

(Left) House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) speaks during a press conference in Washington on Feb. 9, 2026. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Right) New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks about the fiscal year 2027 budget in New York City on May 12, 2026. Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have backed different candidates in a contested Democratic congressional primary, where early voting is underway for the June 23 primary.

Jeffries has thrown his support behind longtime incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) in New York’s 13th Congressional District, which covers parts of Harlem in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Mamdani has endorsed Espaillat’s opponent, Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who worked on the mayor’s campaign last year. The socialist challenger is also backed by progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).