A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
It's primary day in New York City today. It's also the biggest test of first-term Mayor Zohran Mamdani's electoral influence since his own win last year, when the democratic socialist inspired thousands to support a political movement. Now, this year, he's trying to expand on it, going to bat in three Democratic congressional primaries. WNYC's senior politics reporter, Brigid Bergin, joins us now with more on what to watch for in today's races. So before we dig in, we're focusing on Democratic primaries here. Will any of these seats, Brigid, come into play in November?
BRIGID BERGIN, BYLINE: No. These are deep, deep blue districts, so this really isn't about the balance of power in the U.S. House. The bigger story is about the future of the Democratic Party in New York City and, frankly, A, beyond. Mayor Mamdani has become a national figure talking about the affordability crisis and is outspoken against Israel's actions in Gaza. Here's how Mamdani framed the stakes of this primary at a get-out-the-vote rally just last week in Brooklyn with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
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ZOHRAN MAMDANI: The party of the past will not be what leads us into the future, for we need a Democratic Party with backbone.
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MAMDANI: A Democratic Party that offers an affirmative agenda without apology.
BERGIN: Ultimately, Mamdani says his slate of endorsed candidates represents the kind of change the Democratic Party needs.
MARTÍNEZ: All right. So let's talk about his slate. First, he's backed a congressional candidate for one open seat.
BERGIN: Yes. That's to succeed retiring Congress member Nydia Velazquez, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House back in 1992. Her district went big for Mamdani last year. And Mamdani endorsed first-term state assembly member Claire Valdez. She's a democratic socialist, union organizer. Velazquez is backing Antonio Reynoso, the current Brooklyn borough president. This race has really become a referendum over who controls the local Democratic Party - Mamdani versus Velazquez, the DSA movement versus progressive Democrats.
MARTÍNEZ: Are there any other DSA candidates running?
BERGIN: Yeah. In New York 13, Mamdani is backing 32-year-old Darializa Avila Chevalier, who came to the Upper Manhattan and Bronx district to go to college about a decade ago. She's an Afro Latina organizer, has led pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. She's challenging Congress member Adriano Espaillat, the first Dominican American elected to Congress. He's 71, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. She attacks Espaillat over taking AIPAC money, a pro-Israel lobbying group, and says he's out of touch with the real needs of their community. He's labeled her and the broader DSA movement as gentrifiers, forcing longstanding Black and brown residents out of their neighborhood.
MARTÍNEZ: And Mamdani endorsed another challenger against incumbent Congressman Dan Golden.
BERGIN: Yeah. That's in New York 10. Former mayoral candidate Brad Lander is running against Goldman, citing his past support of military funding for Israel. Now, both candidates are Jewish, but Lander's taken a harder line, calling Israel's action in Gaza a genocide. The Israeli government rejects those allegations and says its target is Hamas. Lander's also attacked Goldman for taking money from AIPAC and for spending a lot of his own money on the campaign. But Goldman has support from people like Governor Kathy Hochul, who calls him her go-to guy in Washington. But at this point, the race is leaning Lander.
MARTÍNEZ: All right. That's WNYC's Brigid Bergin in New York. Thanks a lot.
BERGIN: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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