US congressman Dan Goldman has been defeated in a New York primary election, capping a clean sweep for candidates backed by New York's democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
Goldman was beaten by progressive challenger Brad Lander in New York's 10th congressional district in a contest that laid bare the party's divisions over the Israel-Gaza war. Lander has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Goldman, a two-term incumbent, was backed by pro-Israel groups.
Two other candidates, both democratic socialists endorsed by Mamdani, won their primary races on Tuesday. Assemblywoman Claire Valdez unseated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the 7th district. Darializa Avila Chevalier, a doctoral student who has joined pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, won her race in New York's 13th district, toppling five-term congressman Adriano Espaillat.
Lander, who was also endorsed by Vermont's democratic socialist Senator Bernie Sanders, easily beat Goldman by 65.7% to 34.1%. In a post on X after the results, he said his victory showed that the people of his district "want leadership ready to fight, not fold, against authoritarianism".
Goldman said he had called Lander to congratulate him. "Tonight, the voters of 10th District have spoken. While this is not the outcome I worked so hard for, I respect their decision," Goldman said. US President Donald Trump called Goldman "weak and pathetic" in the aftermath of the race.
In New York's affluent 12th district, Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F Kennedy, lost his election. Schlossberg, 33, was defeated by assemblymember Micah Lasher in a crowded race to succeed congressman Jerry Nadler. Lasher was an aide to Nadler. Schlossberg is a Vogue correspondent and Harvard Law School graduate. Another also-ran was George Conway, who managed to win only about 6% of the vote.
Mamdani made no endorsement in that race. The mayor said earlier on Tuesday: "It's not just a question of electing more Democrats. It's a question of electing better Democrats." But establishment Democrats in Washington are concerned that the left-wing candidates might not appeal to swing voters in this November's midterm elections. All three candidates backed by Mamdani have vowed to "abolish ICE" and "tax the rich", and they have accused Israel of genocide. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, said of Mamdani: "We have agreed to strongly disagree."