With assist from Amira McKee
PRIMARILY INTERESTING: Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani’s resounding main victory uncovered how a Democratic socialist’s potential to dominate throughout the town, and his 56-43 win over the extra average Andrew Cuomo has sparked a wave of power for lefty challenges.
Professional-Cuomo lawmakers state Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember David Weprin have already drawn challengers, however a bunch of different low-profile electeds didn’t again Mamdani and noticed their constituents vote overwhelmingly in his favor.
Due to knowledge revealed by Sam Hudis and Aggressive Benefit Analysis, Playbook was capable of determine 23 Democratic-held legislative districts within the metropolis the place Mamdani captured greater than 50 % of the vote within the first spherical of ranked alternative voting.
5 of these districts are occupied by lawmakers who didn’t obtain the backing of the Working Households Celebration in its preliminary spherical of endorsements final 12 months and stayed away from the model of leftist politics that launched Mamdani to the nomination — and so they may see the Mamdani momentum topple them subsequent June.
These lawmakers didn’t endorse Mamdani within the Democratic main — or they backed Cuomo. 4 of them symbolize a cluster of neighborhoods close to and alongside the border of Brooklyn and Queens and one comes from Northern Manhattan.
Help from WFP and the DSA might be key for any left challenger hoping to unseat an incumbent, however the teams instructed Playbook it’s too early to speak about subsequent 12 months’s primaries.
“The WFP is focused on winning in November, alongside Zohran Mamdani and our other endorsees all around New York,” celebration spokesperson Sydney Watnick mentioned. “Our number one priority at this time is making sure that working families across the state know and feel that their elected officials are working together to make New York more affordable for everyone.”
Grace Mausser, the co-chair of the town’s Democratic Socialist chapter, instructed Playbook in an announcement, “Currently, our Electoral Working Group is looking at Zohran’s historic victory to see where we can grow our movement across the city. We’ll be hosting several forums this fall to hear from interested candidates, discuss their campaigns among our members, and ultimately our membership will vote on who we should endorse.”
1. Maritza Davila. District 53.
Zohran vote share: 75%
Main endorsement: None
First elected: 2013
Nowhere else did Mamdani do higher within the first spherical of voting than in Assemblymember Maritza Davila’s district, which incorporates what some political nerds have dubbed the “Commie Corridor.”
Three quarters of all main voters ranked him first, with Cuomo nabbing a mere 15 % of the vote.
Davila didn’t again anybody within the mayoral main, however she supported lefty Maya Wiley within the 2021 race after rescinding an endorsement for former comptroller Scott Stringer following allegations of sexual harassment he denies.
Her most up-to-date main problem was in 2018, when she gained with 82 % of the vote and received the backing of the Working Households Celebration.
“The voters of Bushwick and Williamsburg have always made their voices clear when it comes to the issues that matter most — the cost of rent, the price of putting food on the table, and being able to afford to get to work or school,” Davila mentioned in an announcement. “For years, these neighborhoods have been at the forefront of demanding action on rent stabilization, food costs, and affordable, reliable public transportation. That is why the community came out so strongly for Zohran Mamdani. His message resonated because it speaks to the daily struggles my constituents face and the fights I have taken on throughout my career from delivering summer SNAP dollars, to advocating for rent freezes to working to make the B60 bus free.”
2. Stefani Zinerman. District 56.
Zohran vote share: 65%
Main endorsement: None
First elected: 2020
Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman efficiently waded off a aggressive main problem final 12 months, however left-leaning Democrats are already eyeing her Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights district.
Zinerman — a detailed ally of Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries — turned the newest entrance on the Home chief’s warfare to fend off the DSA in his yard. He received closely concerned within the race, and it in the end paid off: Zinerman beat Eon Huntley by six factors final 12 months.
Left-leaning Metropolis Council Member Chi Ossé, who resides in Zinerman’s district, has already made clear he needs somebody to unseat her subsequent 12 months.
“Her pro-landlord lobby, pro-homelessness, pro-displacement agenda has been allowed to ravage our neighborhoods for too long,” he wrote in a prolonged assertion. “Her abhorrent policy positions invite a primary challenge.”
Zinerman instructed Playbook in an announcement that she commends Mamdani for his “impressive and inspiring grassroots campaign.”
“In each election, I have earned the trust of voters through hard work, accessibility, and by advancing a legislative and community agenda rooted in equity, accountability, and action,” she mentioned. “Speculating about my political future without acknowledging the depth of my service or the diversity of thought within progressive circles is a disservice to the constituents of the 56th Assembly District and your readers.”
3. Jenifer Rajkumar. District 38.
Zohran vote share: 64%
Main endorsement: None
First elected: 2020
To political insiders, Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar wants no introduction. She was as soon as well-known for her exceptional stanning of our Mayor Eric Adams, however when his political capital nosedived she all however halted her cascade of appearances with the mayor.
This 12 months, she was the average challenger hoping to unseat lefty Jumaane Williams for public advocate, and she or he levied assaults (which some criticized as racist) that he was lazy and absent from his job. Rajkumar — who can also be a robust supporter of Israel — misplaced to Williams by over 50 factors however was capable of maintain her district, which incorporates elements of Ridgewood, Glendale and Woodhaven.
“In 2020, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar made history, defeating an 11-year incumbent by the largest margin of any challenger in New York State and tripling voter turnout to a record high,” her spokesperson Jacob Gross mentioned in an announcement. “Since then, she has brought that same unmatched energy and results to her district every day, backed by a broad, diverse coalition — and she’s just getting started.”
4. Erik Dilan. District 54.
Zohran vote share: 65%
Main endorsement: Cuomo
First elected: 2014
Erik Dilan represents elements of Bushwick and Cypress Hills — and he has expertise watching incumbents lose their seats to younger, lefty challengers. His father, former state Sen. Marty Dilan, notably turned the primary sitting state legislator to lose a main to a DSA member when he was ousted by Julia Salazar in 2018.
The Assemblymember’s most up-to-date main problem got here from DSA member Samy Olivares in 2022; he squeaked by with 52 % of the vote. He didn’t reply to a request for remark.
5. Al Taylor. District 71.
Zohran vote share: 51%
Main endorsement: None
First elected: 2017
Harlem noticed a swing towards Mamdani, and Assemblymember Al Taylor’s district was no exception.
Whereas he didn’t endorse within the main, Mamdani introduced Thursday that Taylor is supporting him within the common election.
Earlier this 12 months, the Harlem lawmaker stood with different Black electeds to help Eric Adams throughout the temporary interval when Gov. Kathy Hochul was contemplating eradicating him from workplace.
“As a longtime colleague in the NYS Assembly, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Zohran Mamdani on issues that matter most to our communities,” Taylor mentioned in an announcement. “I look forward to continuing our work together, including making New York more affordable and our city safer. I am proud to support our Democratic nominee for Mayor and am eager to campaign with him leading up to the November election, doing my part to help create a brighter future for our city.” — Jason Beeferman and Invoice Mahoney
SUBPOENA SITUATION: The U.S. lawyer’s workplace in Albany has issued two subpoenas to New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James stemming from a pair of politically charged civil instances towards President Donald Trump and the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation, based on an individual conversant in the matter.
The subpoenas are an escalation of the Trump administration’s scrutiny of James, who has positioned herself as a ferocious opponent of the president. The Division of Justice earlier this 12 months opened a separate investigation into mortgage fraud allegations towards James, which she has denied.
The New York Instances first reported the subpoenas.
“Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American,” James spokesperson Geoff Burgan mentioned in an announcement. “We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association, and we will continue to stand up for New Yorkers’ rights.”
James’ civil fraud case towards Trump led to a Manhattan trial decide final 12 months figuring out the president and different defendants — together with his grownup sons — inflated his web value and the worth of his actual property properties. The decide ordered Trump to pay an enormous monetary penalty that, with curiosity, has ballooned to greater than half a billion {dollars}. Trump is interesting that verdict.
James’ workplace final 12 months efficiently gained a fraud case towards the NRA, the pro-gun rights advocacy group, with a jury figuring out its longtime CEO misspent the group’s funds on costly perks.
“Investigating the fraud case Attorney General James won against President Trump and his businesses has to be the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign,” James’ private lawyer Abbe Lowell mentioned. — Nick Reisman, Josh Gerstein and Erica Orden
‘HAPPY 90TH’: New York lawmakers joined the AARP to have a good time Social Safety’s ninetieth anniversary right now. The milestone comes at a dangerous second for the state’s social security web, because the Empire State’s social service businesses brace for deep federal funding cuts within the Republican-led “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Susceptible GOP Rep. Mike Lawler attended one AARP occasion right now within the Hudson Valley’s Tarrytown. Lawler is a high-priority goal for Democrats in search of to retake the Home majority subsequent 12 months and he’s confronted protests in his district over cuts to social service packages within the Republican megabill.
However Lawler was greeted diplomatically right now and centered his temporary remarks on efforts to bolster space Social Safety places of work and the way the megabill advantages seniors.
“I am proud of the fact that as part of the tax bill, we were able to pass a $6,000 senior deduction, which will help offset Social Security taxes that is vital for our seniors who are living on a fixed income,” he mentioned.
It was a far cry from the combative “Morning Joe” interview he had earlier within the day, the place host Joe Scarborough pressed him on the regulation’s impression on Medicaid and district hospitals. Lawler accused hospital representatives of “parroting” speaking factors.
Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres joined a associated AARP occasion within the Bronx right now, telling the small crowd that he’s “a lifelong ally in the fight for social security.”
“For me, there is no greater responsibility for the federal government and for America than to protect Social Security for the present and future generation of older Americans,” Torres mentioned.
Torres didn’t immediately criticize the megabill or his Republican colleagues in his handle, however mentioned “the top one percent does not pay their fair share into Social Security” — a pointed nod to the partisan debate. — Amira McKee and Emily Ngo
— QUEENS BOYS: Trump and Cuomo’s have crossed paths of their private {and professional} lives a number of occasions earlier than. (The New York Instances)
— ONE WAY STREET: Mamdani has voiced help for Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill in her bid for governor of New Jersey, however the average is conserving her distance. (POLITICO Professional)
— GET OUT: The brand new Brooklyn headquarters for Adams’ reelection marketing campaign has an impressive vacate order. (THE CITY)
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