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Far-lefties endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani dominated election night, securing victories against incumbents and establishment candidates

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NY Gov. Hochul was frolicking on Buffalo Bills stadium grass - as candidates she endorsed fell to far-left

By Matt Troutman

She got buffaloed.

Gov. Kathy Hochul-backed candidates largely got slaughtered in Tuesday's primaries by a murderers' row of Democratic Socialists of America insurgents -- raising questions over how much political sway she holds after selling out to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his "tax the rich" comrades.

On primary day, Hochul was notably checked out – instead of hitting the campaign trail, she was sprawled on the grass of the new Buffalo Bills stadium, hobnobbing with the team’s billionaire owner Terry Pegula as the DSA swept.

"She controls the levers of government, the state party infrastructure, and has a proven ability to win statewide. But Mamdani has demonstrated that there is growing political value in being perceived as an outsider willing to take on the establishment,” former Democratic state Sen. David Carlucci told The Post.

The moderate Hochul -- who symbolically leads the state Democratic party in New York and controls a vast and powerful fundraising network -- formed a tenuous political alliance with the socialist firebrand Mamdani after his meteoric rise in last year’s mayoral election.

But Mamdani has done little-to-nothing to back Hochul’s preferred candidates. He instead endorsed a slate of DSA and progressive congressional and state legislature candidates in direct opposition to Hochul’s picks – who floundered in Tuesday's primaries.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaking at a podium in front of a stadium.
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul attending the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY, on Wednesday. AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Not only did high-profile Hochul endorsees such as Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat get cut down by Mayor Zohran Mamdani's preferred picks, but even the candidate she endorsed -- Karen Hoak -- for her home Assembly district in Buffalo lost to DSA candidate Adam Bojak.

Another ally and endorsee, state Senator Jeremy Zellner (D-Erie) got rocked by WFP-backed progressive assemblyman Jon Rivera (D-Erie). Zellner anointed himself to the seat when it was vacated by now Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan.

“The pendulum is swinging so hard it has broken free from the clock,” Hudson Valley state Sen. Jim Skoufis (D-Orange) posted to X.

One Hochul pick who actually did win was state Assemblyman Micah Lasher in the crowded 12th congressional district race in Manhattan.

The governor scrambled down to Lasher's victory party to bask in her one big W.

Only two of Hochul’s endorsees facing competitive primaries were successful -- Lasher and Assemblyman Jordan Wright (D-Manhattan), who survived a DSA challenger.

As Hochul's candidates faltered, she was able to carve out a few hours earlier in the day to party with her precious Buffalo Bills who cut the ribbon on their new stadium in Orchard Park.

But she was able to carve out a few hours earlier in the day to party with her precious Buffalo Bills who cut the ribbon on their new stadium in Orchard Park.

“Is this heaven?” Hochul’s office posted to X with a photo of her sprawled out on the new Highmark Stadium grass with Terry Pegula, the Bills owner who made billions from fracking and fossil fuels.

When asked by the DSA's successes over establishment Dems, Hochul said Wednesday that she'd work with "everyone" to fight President Trump. She cast the vast gulf of differences within the party as a strength.

"I never said we're united as a party," she said. "No one has ever accused us of being fully united behind one individual, one concept. That's okay. We speak for many voices.

"That's the beauty of the Democratic Party, we're not beholden to one voice of Donald Trump. We're not all lockstep with his MAGA agenda, which is, which is crushing our economy and hurting individuals."

Former state Sen. Diane Savino said she thinks results show the power of the DSA’s turnout operation in targeted races. She said if Hochul is re-elected she can “wait them out” and use her structural influence in Albany to stay alive.

“It’ll be a different environment," Savnio said. "But at the end of the day, the governor still holds all the cards. She’s proven more than once that she will wait them out and she doesn’t care.”

She laughed at Hochul’s framing that she unites Democrats.

“The idea that we’re a big team and we all play under one banner is absurd. That’s never been true.”

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GOP gov hopeful Bruce Blakeman calls for 'common sense' Democrats to join his cause after Mamdani's socialist sweep

By Matt Troutman

Blake's offering a safe harbor from Zo's red wave.

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman decried the stunning socialist sweep by Zohran Mamdani-backed candidates during Tuesday's primaries, casting it as another failure of Gov. Kathy Hochul's leadership.

“The Hochul-Mamdani lunatic wing of the Democrat Party has made it less affordable and less safe to live in New York," he said in a statement late Tuesday.

Mamdani's slate of far-left congressional and state legislature candidates -- including firebrand Darializa Avila Chevalier -- dominated their primary contests against moderate Democrats.

The wins showed Mamdani's influence over the Democratic Party writ large, and raised fears among establishment pols that his Democratic Socialists of America faction is gaining power.

Blakeman, who serves as Nassau County's executive, extended an olive branch to disaffected moderates.

"I’m asking common sense Democrats to join our cause to save New York from the socialist, anti-American Communists and restore normalcy to our state," he said.

Firebrand Darializa Avila Chevalier vows 'politics of the past end today' as she slams incumbent Rep. Espaillat in victory speech

By Craig McCarthy
Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier speaks to her supporters during an election night watch party Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Socialist firebrand Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is projected to beat five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, slammed him in her victory speech Tuesday night. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Socialist firebrand Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is projected to beat five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, slammed her opponent in a victory speech Tuesday night, vowing "the politics of the past end today."

“It is so surreal to be here tonight. I look around this room and see so many faces who showed up for this campaign when things were not easy,” Avila Chevalier said, calling her win a “new dawn.”

The insurgent attacked her foe, accusing Espaillat of turning a blind eye to the real estate industry as rents were raised in his district.

“The politics of the past end today. The era of taking a check and cashing and calling it representation ends today,” she said.

Espaillat conceded to Avila Chevalier after trailing her 49.3% to 46%, with 86% of votes counted late Tuesday.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who endorsed his fellow DSA member, also spoke to a new beginning for the Democratic Party at the victory party, where he introduced the projected winner.

“We are showing that last June… was not an anomaly. It was not the end, it was the beginning," Mamdani said. “Now that language of hope is a language of fact.”

DSA candidates poised to hit Albany with a red wave after NY state primary elections

By Vaughn Golden , Matthew Fischetti , Haley Brown and Hannah Fierick

The deep-blue Empire State got hit by a socialist red wave Tuesday.

Nearly all DSA candidates were poised to best incumbent and establishment Democrats in state legislative primary races.

Seven of the eight Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed candidates were set to win their primary elections — boosting the lefty group’s numbers to 14 from nine in Albany.

If Tuesday’s results hold — and the likely victors succeed in the November general election — Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s DSA comrades will hold four seats in the 63-seat state Senate and 10 districts in the 150-seat state Assembly. Republicans currently hold 22 state Senate seats and 47 districts in the Assembly.

Three incumbent Democrats in Brooklyn and Queens’ “commie corridor” lost to DSA insurgents, including Assemblyman Erik Dilan (D-Brooklyn), Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Brooklyn), according to early vote totals.

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Mamdani-backed NY State Senate candidate who downplayed 9/11 wins Queens primary

By Vaughn Golden

Aber Kawas -- the DSA member and Mamdani-backed candidate who once described 9/11 as a terror attack that a “couple people did" -- cinched the Democratic nomination to rep a western Queens based state senate district Tuesday night.

Kawas, a self-described “Muslim civil right advocate,” won with 60% of the vote in her primary race against Assemblyman Steven Raga (D-Queens) to replace outgoing state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Queens) with 95% of precincts reporting.

Kawas has also been listed as a speaker for CAIR, a controversial Muslim charity accused of Hamas links.

While Gianaris, who held a significant amount of power as deputy majority leader and chair of Senate Democrats’ campaign arm in Albany, made endorsements in several other primary races, he did not weigh in on his chosen successor.

Mamdani-backed lefties sweep in NYC congressional primaries – as socialist mayor’s influence grows to DC

By Craig McCarthy , Matt Troutman and Marie Pohl

The Zo-mentum is real.

Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s far-left slate of Big Apple congressional hopefuls prevailed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary – with firebrand Darializa Avila Chevalier projected to pull off an AOC-style upset.

Former city Comptroller Brad Lander and state Assemblywoman Claire Valdez were quickly projected by the Associated Press and NY1 to win over their establishment Democrat opponents.

Avila Chevalier held a razor-thin 49.3% to 46% lead over Rep. Adriano Espaillat with 86% of votes counted late Tuesday, leading the five-term incumbent to concede.

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'We have declared that this movement is durable,' says Valdez in victory speech

Claire Valdez lauded the efforts of the Democratic Socialists of America, declaring the far-left group has created a "durable" movement in her victory speech.

"We haven't just won an election, we have declared that this movement is durable that is growing," the rookie lawmaker said. "And that it will not stop until working people are no longer asked to build the table and go out today, the information on the table."

Valdez vowed to lead the fight against ICE, vowing "in me they will have a champion" and continue to fight for Palestinian "liberation."

"We'll use our money to save lives here instead of destroy them abroad," she said.

Valdez received the nomination in NY-7, beating out establishment pick with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

Trump dunks on his old foes in their failed bids for House seats

By Craig McCarthy

President Trump skewered a pair of his old foes after Dan Goldman and George Conway lose their bids for New York Congressional seats.

The incumbent Goldman lost Tuesday to Brad Lander in the NY-10 race.

Conway, whose now ex-wife Kellyanne worked in the first Trump administration, failed to crack double digits in the crowded field for NY-12 seat.

President Trump weighs in on House races, attacking foes in Goldman and Conway after both lose in New York pic.twitter.com/TaNyROoagt

— Craig McCarthy (@createcraig) June 24, 2026

President Trump-backed candidate defeats NY GOP opponent in race to replace Stefanik

By Vaughn Golden

President Trump-backed Anthony Constantino bested the New York Republican Party's endorsed candidate in a race for upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik’s House seat.

The Associated Press called the race in Constantino's favor Tuesday evening with the Amsterdam-based stick company CEO garnering 58% of the vote as of 77% of precincts reporting Tuesday.

The race played against the backdrop of Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally, ending both her bid to become New York’s next governor and re-election for Congress.

The state’s GOP establishment had lined up behind Smullen, who received the endorsement of state party Chairman Ed Cox and the majority of Republican and Conservative committees in his district.

But Smullen’s path to victory was complicated by Trump’s blockbuster endorsement of Constantino, an eccentric upstate entrepreneur. 

“Anthony is strongly supported by many of our most Highly Respected MAGA warriors in our movement, including Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone!” Trump wrote on TruthSocial in April, sending out another message of support just before Tuesday's election.

Smullen, for his part, had accused Stone – a Trump operative and Constantino – of duping the president into the endorsement.

“A consultant got to the president, someone who is being paid by my opponent, and I think the president’s made a mistake,” Smullen said.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat concedes to insurgent Darializa Avila Chevalier

By Craig McCarthy

Rep. Adriano Espaillat has conceded the race in New York's 13th Congressional District, saying serving in Congress was the privilege of his life.

Surrounded by current and former lawmakers, Espaillat thanked his supporters for standing with him as he tried to fend off a challenge from DSA member Darializa Avila Chevalier.

"Tonight wasn't our night, but I love you anyway," he said.

Micah Lasher projected to win outgoing Rep. Jerry Nadler's NY-12 seat in AI-dominated race

By Haley Brown

Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary in New York's 12th Congressional District, defeating state Assembly Member Alex Bores in a race that became a national battleground over artificial intelligence, according to early vote tallies.

FILE - Micah Lasher, center, democratic candidate in New York's 12th Congressional District, speaks during "NY-12 for Congress: Candidate Forum" at 92NY, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura,File)
Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary in New York's 12th Congressional District. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

Lasher, who represents the Upper West Side's 69th Assembly District, had 39% of the vote when the Associated Press called the race for him at 10:08 p.m. with 85% of votes counted.

Bores had around 35% of the vote, followed by Jack Kennedy Schlossberg, former President John F. Kennedy's grandson, with close to 11%.

Lasher had the backing of the Democratic establishment, including outgoing Rep. Jerry Nadler, who endorsed him Feb. 9 after announcing his retirement after 34 years in office.

FILE - Alex Bores, democratic candidate in New York's 12th Congressional District, speaks during "NY-12 for Congress: Candidate Forum" at 92NY, April 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)
Bores narrowly lost the race that became a battleground over AI. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

Bores, representing the Upper East Side's 73rd Assembly District, had entered as the early fundraising frontrunner, raising $2.2 million by early 2026 -- more than three times Lasher's initial haul -- though nearly half his money came from California, according to City & State.

The flood of outside cash that defined the race traced back to Bores's support of the RAISE Act, one of the nation's toughest AI safety laws, passed by the New York Legislature in a bipartisan vote.

Critics of the legislation, poured millions into attack ads against Bores while supporters committed millions more to keep his campaign afloat. In the end, nearly 50% of all AI-focused super PAC spending nationally this cycle was directed at this single Manhattan race, according to The Guardian.

Democratic congressional candidate Jack Schlossberg speaks during an election night watch party Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, came in a distant third. AP Photo/Heather Khalifa

But the torrent of outside money was not enough to overcome Lasher's deep roots in the district. Lasher will be heavily favored in the November general election in a district that has not elected a Republican to Congress in decades.

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