Mamdani-backed socialist with history of anti-American rhetoric wins vicious Dem primary race
A controversial socialist who once called the United States “a f—–g disgrace” and was backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, ousted a five-term Democratic incumbent in New York’s 13th Congressional District. Darializa Avila Chevalier, 32, is a community organizer who studied at Columbia University where she was known for leftist agitation and her membership in a group called Columbia University Apartheid Divest that would later post “Death to America” on its social media. She defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y. on Tuesday. Avila Chevalier, who positioned herself further to the left than powerful progressives including former Vice President Kamala Harris, has faced scrutiny for her stance on private property, police, borders and calls to nationalize large swaths of the private sector in now-deleted posts from 2018 to 2022. In a 2021 repost, Avila Chevalier said that abolishing borders, prisons and police is “possible, necessary, and the only moral way forward,” and later echoed posts that said “all deportation is wrong” and, “Yes, literally abolish the border,” according to one report. FROM WASSERMAN SCHULTZ TO GOLDMAN, DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS ARE FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL “This country is a f—–g disgrace,” she said in a post. “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me,” she reportedly said in yet another. She reportedly called former President Joe Biden a “rapist” and “war criminal,” chastised Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., for his “liberal Zionism,” and said “F–k Kamala Harris.” Despite this, with Mamdani’s backing and an increasingly left-leaning voter bloc in New York, Avila Chevalier secured the Democratic nomination. MAMDANI REVEALS IN RESURFACED VIDEO HOW ONE OF HIS ‘GREATEST VICTORIES’ BENEFITTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS In a recent debate with Espaillat, who came to the United States illegally before becoming a naturalized citizen and running for office, Avila Chevalier doubled down on her belief that no illegal aliens should be deported from the U.S., even if they have committed violent crimes and served prison or jail time. She also once blasted Black and Arab men for “fetishizing ugly colonizer women,” referring to white women. Despite the controversy, Mamdani, who first endorsed Avila Chevalier in May, stuck by his endorsement and tested his socialist coattails. “When it comes to Darializa’s campaign, I had not seen those tweets and what I’ve heard from her and what I know a lot of others in the district that have heard from her is that her views have evolved and that the campaign she is running on is reflective of what she’s going to be fighting for,” Mamdani said when confronted by the candidate’s controversial comments. “And frankly, when I see a candidate who has a record like she does of freeing New Yorkers who are unjustly detained by ICE, of standing up for the working person who has often been left out of our politics, especially in a district that has so many of the same themes that we’re speaking of today — a fear of displacement, a fear of being pushed out of a place you helped to build — I think that she would be an incredible champion for that district and for the city as a whole,” he continued. Under its geographic boundaries, NY-13 encompasses Upper Manhattan and part of the West Bronx. The district has never been represented by a Republican, and Avila Chevalier is all but guaranteed to win November’s general election now that she’s clinched the Democratic nomination.
GOP voters pick Trump-backed nominee in battle to flip crucial House seat
Peter Oberacker, a Trump-backed Republican New York state senator, won a GOP primary on Tuesday evening, securing the GOP nomination to challenge incumbent Rep. Josh Riley, D-N.Y. New York’s 19th Congressional District, which encompasses an area north of Manhattan, is one of many competitive seats Republicans hope to flip as they look to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, where they hold a narrow majority. Despite a historically Democratic bent, Republicans last won the district in 2022. Oberacker, who has a background in food business, has served as a New York state senator since 2021. In his campaign, he has pitched himself as a pragmatic public servant with a diverse resume. VULNERABLE HOUSE DEM FACING HEAT FOR ‘DODGING’ QUESTIONS ABOUT SOCIALIST MAMDANI’S RISE “They say there are two things you should never see being made: laws and sausage. Well, I know both. Service has always called me. As a volunteer firefighter and EMT and as a town supervisor and county legislator,” Oberacker said in a campaign video. Oberacker received President Donald Trump’s endorsement earlier this year. “As your next Congressman, he will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strengthen our Brave Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity and Protect our always-under-siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote. INSIDE THE REPUBLICAN VICTORIES IN SUBURBAN NEW YORK: ‘FED UP WITH ONE PARTY DEMOCRATIC RULE’ Most of Oberacker’s work in the state Senate has focused on rural agriculture, farms and ratepayer energy costs. In the past, Oberacker has introduced bills that looked to ban retroactive bills for businesses and a ban on using taxpayer funds to cover corporate losses. He has also spearheaded calls to investigate climbing utility prices. “Results matter. That’s why I have introduced several bills as a part of my utility ratepayer bill of rights. This legislation requires transparency and accountability from the utilities and gives power back to people — where it belongs,” Oberacker wrote in a recent post to Facebook. He has raised just shy of a million dollars, according to Federal Election Commission records. DEMOCRAT REP JOSH RILEY BLASTED AS ‘HYPOCRITE’ OVER TIES TO ENERGY FIRM HE CRITICIZES ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL Having cleared the primary, Oberacker now heads to the general election, where he will face off against Riley on Nov. 3. Riley, a first-term representative, won his seat in a narrow 51.1% to 48.8% victory over Rep. Marcus Molinaro, R-N.Y., in 2024.
Longtime Dem incumbent’s chosen successor wins crowded NYC primary as big-name rivals fall short
New York Assemblyman Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary Tuesday to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, defeating a crowded field that included anti-Trump lawyer George Conway, Kennedy family scion Jack Schlossberg and fellow New York State Assemblyman Alex Bores. The race drew outsized attention because incumbent Rep. Jerry Nadler’s retirement created a rare open-seat contest in a Manhattan district he has represented for more than three decades, since 1992. The crowded Democratic primary featured a mix of local elected officials and national names, including George Conway, a conservative attorney turned high-profile Trump critic who was formerly married to Kellyanne Conway, one of Trump’s top White House advisers during his first term. TRUMP TRASHES NADLER ON HEELS OF DEM’S HOUSE RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT: ‘ONE OF THE MOST DISGUSTING CONGRESSMAN’ It also featured a run from Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, whose famous family name and large social media following brought national attention to the otherwise hyperlocal Manhattan primary. Lasher also fended off a challenge from New York state lawmaker Alex Bores, whose campaign became a test case in the political power of the AI industry after the former computer engineer helped push New York’s RAISE Act, a state-level AI safety law aimed at forcing major developers to publish safety plans and disclose risks tied to the most powerful models. His push for tougher AI guardrails drew heavy opposition from tech-aligned super PACs, which responded by pouring millions into the race against him, turning the Manhattan primary into a proxy war over whether states should be allowed to crack down on the rapidly growing industry. MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST PREVAILS IN CROWDED PRIMARY TO REPLACE RETIRING REP Lasher entered the race as the most obvious establishment heir to Nadler, drawing support from the retiring congressman and other major New York political figures. His win would suggest that local institutional backing still mattered in a race where several rivals had stronger national profiles. Lasher previously worked for Nadler, Gov. Kathy Hochul and served as director of state legislative affairs under former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He entered the race with support from all three, giving him significant backing from prominent New York Democrats. Lasher will be heavily favored in November’s general election in the solidly Democratic district, which includes some of Manhattan’s wealthiest and most liberal neighborhoods, including the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown and Chelsea.
Ex-Dem lawmaker beats Bernie-backed rival for shot at Utah’s most competitive House seat
Former U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams won the Democratic nomination for Utah’s newly created 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, prevailing in a competitive four-way primary that became one of the state’s most expensive congressional contests of the 2026 election cycle. McAdams defeated Utah state Sen. Nate Blouin, Michael Farrell and former big tech worker Liban Mohamed to advance to the general election in November. The former congressman will now face Republican nominee Riley Owen in a race expected to be among Utah’s most closely watched congressional contests. The Democratic primary attracted significant attention from donors and outside political groups, underscoring the district’s importance in the battle for control the lower Congressional chamber. According to campaign finance filings, candidates and outside organizations spent approximately $4.6 million on the race. McAdams held a substantial fundraising advantage throughout the campaign. He raised roughly $1.9 million, exceeding the combined fundraising total of his three Democratic opponents. Outside groups also invested heavily in support of his candidacy as national Democrats viewed the district as their strongest opportunity to gain a congressional seat in Utah. RED STATE JUDGE CHOOSES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP IN FIGHT THAT COULD RESHAPE HOUSE CONTROL The race also drew attention because of high-profile endorsements. Blouin, a state lawmaker, received backing from progressive figures including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., while McAdams emphasized his record as a centrist Democrat who has won competitive races in a traditionally Republican state. McAdams previously represented Utah’s 4th Congressional District from 2019 to 2021, becoming one of the few Democrats elected to Congress from Utah in recent decades. He narrowly lost his reelection bid in 2020. The newly created 1st District comes after years of litigation over Utah’s congressional boundaries. A court ruling struck down the legislature’s previous congressional map, leading to the creation of a Salt Lake City-based district that leans Democratic. Critics of the earlier map had argued that it diluted the voting strength of Salt Lake County residents by dividing the area among multiple districts. JUDGE SET TO CHOOSE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP IN FIGHT THAT COULD RESHAPE HOUSE CONTROL The revised boundaries have reshaped Utah’s congressional landscape and created a rare competitive district in a state that has long been dominated by Republicans.
Dem candidate clears crowded field to face Trump-backed incumbent in NY
U.S. Army veteran Cait Conley emerged Tuesday from a crowded primary in New York’s 17th Congressional District, setting up a high-stakes general election showdown against Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in a race expected to help determine control of the U.S. House. Conley defeated four Democratic rivals to secure the nomination and will face Lawler in November. Lawler, a two-term Republican and ally of President Donald Trump, has previously criticized Conley over her connection to the deadly U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which occurred during her tenure on former President Joe Biden’s National Security Council. The Hudson Valley district is among the most competitive congressional battlegrounds in the country and one of Democrats’ top pickup opportunities. National parties and outside groups are expected to pour millions of dollars into the race, viewing the seat as critical in the battle for House control during the final two years of Trump’s term. VULNERABLE HARRIS-DISTRICT REPUBLICAN BRINGS IN MORE THAN $1M AS DEMS SCRAMBLE TO FLIP SEAT The Democratic primary drew a five-candidate field with varying political backgrounds and bases of support. The leading contenders in fundraising, polling and endorsements ahead of Election Day were Conley and Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson. A third candidate, Tarrytown Trustee Effie Phillips-Staley, positioned herself to the left of her rivals and built support among progressive groups and voters. Also on the ballot were attorney and former journalist Mike Sacks and Air Force veteran John Cappello. BIDEN ALUM SEEKING MIKE LAWLER’S NY SWING SEAT RIPPED FOR TIES TO BOTCHED AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL The 17th District in New York spans portions of four counties on both sides of the Hudson River and contains a politically diverse electorate. The district stretches from affluent, semi-rural communities in northern Westchester County, home to former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; to denser, less affluent areas such as Spring Valley in Rockland County, which encompasses a diverse immigrant community. The mix of deep-blue Democratic strongholds and reliably Republican enclaves has made the district one of the state’s most unpredictable political battlegrounds — and one where Lawler has repeatedly defied expectations. Lawler first flipped the district in 2022 and won re-election in 2024, establishing himself as one of the GOP’s strongest performers in a swing district. Republicans have highlighted his bipartisan record and constituent-focused approach, while Democrats argue the district’s political makeup gives them a strong opportunity to reclaim the seat. Conley primary victory marks the beginning of what is expected to be one of the most expensive and closely watched House races of the 2026 midterm election cycle.
Republican moves closer to replacing Nancy Mace as GOP looks to hold coastal South Carolina seat
Charleston County Councilwoman and small business owner Jenny Costa Honeycutt is one step closer to winning a ticket to Congress and succeeding nationally known GOP Rep. Nancy Mace. Honeycutt defeated state Rep. Mark Smith to win the Republican runoff in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Mace, a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump who’s had a turbulent relationship with the president during her six years in the U.S. House, unsuccessfully ran for governor rather than seek re-election this year. Honeycutt and Smith, who previously served as a member of the Mount Pleasant Town Council, finished atop a very crowded field of candidates in the GOP primary earlier this month. But with no one topping 50%, Honeycutt and Smith, as the top two finishers, advanced to Tuesday’s runoff. The 1st Congressional District, which covers much of South Carolina‘s coastal region, has been held by Republicans for four and a half decades, other than a two-year interlude when Democrats briefly captured the seat during the 2018 blue wave election. Among the Republicans who once held the seat are now-Sen. Tim Scott and former Gov. Mark Sanford. Honeycutt, who describes herself as an “unapologetic conservative,” will face the winner of the Democratic runoff between Mac Deford, an attorney, and retired Coast Guard Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore. While Honeycutt will be considered the favorite in the general election, the Cook Political Report, a top nonpartisan election handicapper, recently shifted its rating of the race from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican.”
Pelosi-backed Democrat loses after $10M flood of crypto, pro-Israel money
Del. Adrian Boafo, D-Md., emerged from a crowded Democratic primary Tuesday to clinch the nomination for former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s deep-blue Maryland seat, aided by millions in outside spending from cryptocurrency and pro-Israel groups. Boafo, 32, defeated a crowded field of roughly two dozen challengers vying to represent the heavily Democratic district Tuesday, including former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, according to The Associated Press. Dunn, who defended the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots in 2021, put opposition to President Donald Trump at the center of his campaign, including criticizing the pardoning of Jan. 6 riot defendants and the president’s defunct $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Dunn resigned from the Capitol Police force in 2023. Boafo’s primary victory comes after the crypto-aligned super PAC Protect Progress and the United Democracy Project — an outside spending group linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) — spent more than $10 million to support his candidacy, according to The Washington Post. FROM WASSERMAN SCHULTZ TO GOLDMAN, DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS ARE FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL He also had the backing of Maryland’s Democratic establishment, including endorsements from Hoyer, Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and the state’s largest teachers union. Boafo previously worked as a campaign aide to Hoyer and a federal lobbyist for the software and technology company Oracle before being elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2022. Hoyer, 86, who has represented the southern Maryland seat for 45 years, announced his retirement in January, setting off a scramble among roughly 24 Democratic candidates for the open seat. He served in House Democratic leadership with his one-time rival, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., from 2007 to 2011 and 2019 to 2023. MARYLAND BALLOT BLUNDER SPARKS HOUSE GOP PROBE AHEAD OF PRIMARY Pelosi broke with Hoyer in the primary contest to endorse Dunn, calling him a “true American hero.” Dunn previously mounted a failed primary bid for an open Maryland House seat in 2024. Dunn notably lived outside the district he sought to represent, residing in Wheaton, Md., but said he would move to Maryland’s 5th Congressional District if he won the primary and general election. Former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, who launched failed gubernatorial bids in 2018 and 2022, and businesswoman Quincy Bareebe, also ran in the open Democratic primary. Given the district’s significant Democratic tilt, the primary winner is not expected to face a competitive GOP challenge in the November general election.
Ex-cop and 9/11 first responder secures Dem nod in bid to unseat firebrand conservative
Michael DeCillis, a former New York Police Department officer, won a Democratic primary on Tuesday evening, securing his party’s nomination to take on incumbent Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y. The race is among many pivotal matchups set to determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority. Although New York Republicans have often found themselves the target of Democratic efforts to flip seats, DeCillis faces an uphill challenge in November. DeCillis has argued that congressional resistance to President Donald Trump is key to preventing executive overreach. NYC’S LONE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLEDGES TO DEFEAT DEMOCRAT REDISTRICTING THREAT TO HER SEAT “He understands that our democracy is disappearing in real time,” DeCillis’ campaign website reads. “In the next Congress, Mike will fight to build guardrails to protect our rights and ensure the government serves everyone — not just billionaires.” Throughout his campaign, DeCillis has touted his diverse background in public service and deep ties to the community in New York, pointing out that he is a fourth-generation Staten Islander and a third-generation union member. “I’ve worked in EMS as a paramedic for over a decade, was a 9/11 first responder, helping firefighters at Ground Zero, I’ve walked the streets of New York City as a police officer and taught as a special education teacher in our public schools,” DeCillis said in a campaign video. LAWMAKER DECRIES RISE IN ANTISEMITISM IN NYC, CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY DeCillis has run for the seat twice before — once in 2018 and in 2022. In both races, he dropped out before the general election. Now in his third challenge, DeCillis is painting Malliotakis as a MAGA-aligned Republican, out of touch with the split voter demographic in the state, and calling her a “MAGA loyalist.” “President Trump and Republicans like Nicole Malliotakis are destroying democracy at home and diplomacy and security abroad,” DeCillis said in a post to X. IN THE WAKE OF MANHATTAN MASS SHOOTING, NYC LAWMAKER URGES NEW YORKERS TO REMAIN ‘VIGILANT’ Malliotakis last won reelection in 2024 with a 63.8% to 35.8% victory over Democratic challenger Andrea Morse, an attorney and small-business owner. Having cleared the primary, DeCillis will face off against Malliotakis in the Nov. 3 general election.
Mamdani-backed socialist prevails in crowded primary to replace retiring rep
Mamdani-endorsed state assembly member Claire Valdez secured the Democratic nomination Tuesday after defeating a crowded field in the primary for New York’s 7th Congressional District. The democratic socialist, who had been leading in the polls, defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, City Council Member Julie Won and civil rights attorney Vichal Kumar to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y. Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, announced she would not seek re-election in November after more than three decades in office. In an endorsement posted on her campaign website, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised Valdez for supporting him during his mayoral campaign and sharing his progressive vision. HASAN PIKER CELEBRATES AMERICA BEING ‘CLOSER THAN EVER’ TO SOCIALISM AS HE BACKS NYC CANDIDATES “Claire Valdez stood with me on day one because she understands how change is won — by building power, raising expectations and delivering for working people,” Mamdani said. “She comes from the labor movement and knows how to turn struggle into real gains on housing, health care and workers’ rights. That’s the kind of partner I need in Congress, and why I’m proud to endorse her.” Velázquez, who also supported Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, publicly slammed the mayor in January after he endorsed Valdez over Reynoso. “Honeymoons are short, and people need to pay attention to the work at hand,” she told The New York Times. MAMDANI’S PRIMARY WIN EXPOSES DEMOCRAT DIVIDE AS TOP LEADERS WITHHOLD ENDORSEMENTS “Primaries sometimes can be a distraction from the work that you need to do,” Velázquez said, adding that the mayor’s involvement “opens up fights” with the people he governs. Valdez, a vocal critic of Israel, has called to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), expand universal healthcare, raise taxes on the wealthy, boost affordable housing and strengthen unions. “It’s a district that doesn’t just want strongly worded letters but a real economic vision to win the working class away from Trumpism,” according to her campaign website. “That’s what Claire will deliver.” SOCIALISTS CHEER ‘SHOCKWAVE’ PRIMARY NIGHT AS DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES WIN, ADVANCE ACROSS THE MAP Controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker and the Justice Democrats, the progressive group that helped launch Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s insurgent House campaign in 2018, have also thrown their support behind Valdez in the race to represent the district, which spans progressive strongholds across Brooklyn and Queens. At a Brooklyn rally this month for candidates endorsed by the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, Piker called Valdez and activist Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is seeking to oust five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., in New York’s 13th Congressional District, “giants” of the socialist movement. “For the longest time, I thought we were so far away from socialism, and we might still be far away from socialism, but we do have an opportunity right here, right now, more than ever before,” Piker said at the rally. Piker added that this could be one of many victories for the socialist movement. “By the end of these midterms, Zohran will seem unremarkable because, by then, we will have elected so many brilliant fighters into legislative offices throughout New York City and the state,” Piker said. Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack contributed to this report.
TribCast: What a new secretary of state could mean for Texas elections
With the midterms fast approaching, Texas’ top elections administrator is out the door. Who will be next — and what awaits them in the role?