US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has congratulated four winners of New York’s Democratic congressional primaries, two of whom had declined to support him as a potential House speaker.
Jeffries congratulated Darializa Avila Chevalier, Claire Valdez, Brad Lander and Micah Lasher after their primary victories this week. All are expected to win in November in heavily Democratic districts.
“From public servants to union organisers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same,” Jeffries wrote on X.
“We must decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far-right extremism.”
The primaries exposed divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel. Chevalier and Valdez, both members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), are aligned with anti-Zionist politics, while Lander describes himself as a “liberal Zionist” who has criticised Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Some pro-Palestine activists had pointed to the victories as evidence of a Democratic electorate looking for candidates who break with the party establishment on issues like Palestine.
Reacting to the results in New York, Beth Miller, political director at Jewish Voice for Peace – Action, the political and advocacy arm of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), said the “Democratic establishment has been put on notice”.
On candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, JVP Action said that both campaigns had been driven by a massive ground game from their movements.
“Tonight there was a pro-Palestine sweep of New York City,” Miller said. “Voters want candidates who will put forward clear and bold positions: tax the rich, abolish ICE and free Palestine.”
JVP Action said that the race proved the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) was a “toxic brand” in the Democratic party, and that Democratic voters were tired of lawmakers who support or defend genocide.
Jeffries had endorsed the defeated incumbents, Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman. Chevalier and Valdez have also declined to back Jeffries as House speaker should Democrats regain control of the chamber.
At Valdez’s election night event, supporters chanted “you’re next” when Jeffries appeared on a screen, signalling the DSA’s willingness to challenge establishment Democrats.
Jeffries has consistently supported Israel’s right to exist and US military assistance to the country, while also condemning Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Last year, he said that “the starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable”.
Congratulations to our newest members of the NYC congressional delegation.
From public servants to union organizers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same.
We must decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far-right extremism! pic.twitter.com/f4XC6dpX7q
— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) June 27, 2026
