Democratic Primary Challengers Defeat Incumbents in Four New York Congressional Districts

Democratic primary voters in four New York congressional districts chose new nominees to replace retiring or defeated incumbents. In the Seventh District, a New York State Assembly member defeated the Brooklyn borough president. The retiring incumbent had backed the borough president, while the winner received support from the mayor.

The district, described by some as among the most left-leaning in the country, featured two candidates with similar platforms that included calls to abolish ICE, enact Medicare for All, and end U.S. military aid to Israel.

In the Tenth District, which covers parts of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, the former New York City comptroller defeated the sitting congressman. The incumbent had served as lead counsel during the 2019 impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump and did not endorse the mayor in last year’s mayoral contest.

The winner criticized the incumbent for spending millions of personal funds on the campaign. The district’s large Jewish population made U.S.-Israel relations a central issue, with the winner describing Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide and the incumbent rejecting that characterization while criticizing the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

In the Twelfth District, a State Assembly member won the Democratic primary to succeed the retiring longtime incumbent. The winner drew backing from much of the New York City political establishment, including the governor and a former New York City mayor.

The mayor, now a resident of the district, did not endorse any candidate. D. The winner, backed by the mayor, had never held elected office. The race again highlighted divisions over U.S.-Israel relations, with the pro-Israel lobbying group supporting the incumbent and the winner describing Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide.

The incumbent received endorsements from the governor, the House minority leader, and the New York attorney general.