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Democratic socialists racked up wins in New York state legislature primary elections on Tuesday with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) sparking the blue wave with his political endorsements.
Democratic socialists achieved victory in two state Senate races and four state Assembly races, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), despite millions of dollars spent by super PACs aimed against them.
Aber Kawas, a Palestinian-American, triumphed in the state Senate Democratic primary for District 12, while state Sen. Jabari Brisport (D) secured more than 78 percent of the vote to win another term for his seat in District 25, with the GOP primary in that district canceled.
Democratic socialist candidate Jessica González-Rojas is leading her primary in District 13, according to DDHQ, although the results have not yet been finalized.
“Together, we can build a future that centers working families and creates real results for our neighborhoods,” González-Rojas said in a statement, according to City and State NY.
Other candidates tied to democratic socialism also won, including Christian Tate and Samantha Kattan, who were both victorious in their New York State Assembly races and face no GOP challenger in November.
Incumbent democratic socialist Diana Moreno may also return to Albany as an Assembly member after winning her primary with almost 79 percent of the vote, DDHQ projected. She faces a Republican challenger in November.
Illapa Sairitupac is also leading his Assembly primary, according to DDHQ vote counts.
“Taxing the rich. Kicking out ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]. Guaranteeing free childcare. Keeping New Yorkers in their homes,” New York City’s Democratic Socialist Association (DSA) wrote in a post Tuesday morning on X, to back its candidates on Election Day.
“We can elect a slate of socialist champions to make this agenda a reality,” it added.
None of their campaigns pierced the $200,000 threshold for campaign spending, although anti-DSA super PACs heavily lobbied against them in a $2.9 million dollar effort, according to New York Focus.
“Zohran is the catalyst. His win woke people up,” said Jeff Leb, a super PAC strategist backing moderate challengers against DSA-aligned candidates told New York Focus.
“DSA has momentum, they’re running their largest slate in New York, and they think they’ve figured out the playbook. That’s why people are responding,” he added.
Mamdani also struck gold in congressional races as Democratic socialist candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, whom he both endorsed, won their campaigns over incumbents.
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