Democrats dominate NYC races, Hochul re-elected New York governor

Progressive candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have won decisive victories in their campaigns to join the United States Congress. On Tuesday, New York City politicians Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez secured their seats in the 120th Congress, representing the 10th, 13th and 7th districts, respectively. All three were considered shoo-ins following the state’s June 23 party primaries.

Their districts lean heavily Democratic. But their wins in the 2026 midterm election solidify a political shift in the New York City area, ushered in by Mamdani’s own victory as a Democratic socialist in the 2025 mayoral race. All three representatives-elect spoke to the public on Tuesday, addressing, among other things, President Donald Trump’s pledge earlier in the day to cease annual military aid to Israel by the end of the year.

Cutting off such aid was central to all three candidates’ policy platforms, as part of their opposition to Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.