Zohran Mamdani’s democratic socialist allies are reportedly considering primary challenges next year against several congressional Democrats in New York City, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
However, a senior political advisor to Jeffries has vowed that anyone attempting to unseat the top Democrat in the House during next year’s primaries will face a “forceful and unrelenting” response, Fox News is reporting.
Mamdani, the 33-year-old Ugandan-born democratic socialist assemblyman from Queens, sent political shockwaves nationwide with his decisive victory two weeks ago over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary.
His win marks a significant step toward potentially becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor, but would also signal the Democratic Party’s increasing shift to the extreme far-left.
In the wake of Mamdani’s primary victory in June, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) highlighted that “this movement is bigger than one person, election, city, or organization.”
“We encourage all people inspired by the Zohran campaign to join their local DSA or YDSA chapter and get involved so we can continue to fight alongside Zohran and DSA elected officials across the country to create the future we all deserve,” the party added.
Now, following Mamdani’s victory, DSA leaders are reportedly considering mounting primary challenges not only against Jeffries but also other House Democrats representing New York City districts, including Reps. Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, and Yvette Clarke, Fox added.
Jeffries, who succeeded longtime House Democratic leader and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi two years ago, has faced criticism from some of New York City’s far-left leaders, who label him a moderate and establishment Democrat.
“His leadership has left a vacuum that organizations like DSA are filling. I think that is more important right now,” New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter co-chair Gustavo Gordillo said in a CNN interview recently.
Democratic socialist state Sen. Jabari Brisport, who represents some of the same areas of Brooklyn that Jeffries does in the U.S. House, told Fox News in a statement that the longtime congressman is “rapidly growing out of touch with an insurgent and growing progressive base within his own district that he should pay more attention to.”
Democratic strategist Andre Richardson, a senior political advisor to Jeffries, highlighted the sweeping actions taken by President Donald Trump during the early months of his second term in the White House that the left vehemently opposes, said, “Leader Hakeem Jeffries is focused on taking back the House from the MAGA extremists who just ripped health care away from millions of Americans.”
Richardson also sent a warning in a statement to CNN against a hard-left primary challenge to Jeffries. “If Team Gentrification [Mamdani allies] wants a primary fight, our response will be forceful and unrelenting. We will teach them and all of their incumbents a painful lesson on June 23, 2026,” he warned.
The tension is escalating as pressure mounts on state and local Democrats in the city to support Mamdani in the general election, amid fears they could face primary challenges if they fail to join his coalition. Mamdani will face Republican Curtis Sliwa in November, while former Governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams will appear on the ballot under minor party lines, the New York Post noted.
Brooklyn State Assemblywoman Phara Souffrant Forrest, a DSA member whose district overlaps with Jeffries’ congressional seat, cautioned Jeffries to be careful what he wishes for.
“Weird threat to make since Hakeem already went after @JabariBrisport [DSA state senator]
and I.How’d that go for him, again?” Forrest said in a statement on X on Thursday.
“2022 Primary Results: SD 22 Jabari Brisport: 70.4%. AD 57 Phara Souffrant Forrest: 67.2% If the leader wants another public beatdown, he knows where to find me,” Forrest added.