Far-left surge: Mamdani-backed candidates oust Dem establishment incumbents
New York City’s socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani did it again. One year after sending political shock waves across the country with his New York City Democratic primary victory on his way to winning election as mayor of the nation’s most populous city, Mamdani tested the limits of his political powers. And he easily passed the test, upending the Democratic Party establishment as a trio of Mamdani-endorsed far-left congressional candidates won their primaries over more moderate incumbents and rivals. Mamdani was the biggest winner on Tuesday, but President Donald Trump also covered his bases, as New York, Maryland, Utah and South Carolina held primaries and runoff elections. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Democrats lurching left The mayor’s most shocking victory came in New York’s 13th Congressional District, where Mamdani-backed candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old community organizer and democratic socialist, narrowly topped incumbent Democrat Adriano Espaillat, the 71-year-old Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair and the first Dominican American elected to the U.S. House. Espaillat, who has been in Congress for a decade, was supported by a slew of party leaders, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST WITH HISTORY OF ANTI-AMERICAN RHETORIC WINS VICIOUS DEM PRIMARY RACE In the race to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Mamdani-endorsed state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who is also aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, downed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso by double digits. Reynoso, who was supported by Velazquez, was downed by more than 20 points. “Tonight, we haven’t just won an election. We have declared that this movement is durable — that it is growing, and that it will not stop until working people are no longer asked to just build the table, no longer just offered a seat at the table, but will run the table,” Valdez said in declaring victory. And a third Mamdani-backed congressional candidate, progressive Brad Lander, crushed incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman. Lander, the former New York City comptroller, ran against Mamdani last year in the crowded Democratic primary field but became one of his biggest backers in the general election. Chevalier, Valdez, and Lander showcased the mayor’s platform of focusing on affordability in a city with one of the nation’s highest costs of living. And all three were very critical of Israel. MAMDANI STANDS BY FELLOW SOCIALIST CANDIDATE DESPITE RESURFACED FAR-LEFT, ANTI-AMERICAN POSTS Lander, who is Jewish, said in his victory speech, “You can criticize Israel and not be antisemitic. You can be an anti-Zionist and not be antisemitic It was a risky bet for Mamdani, just six months into his tenure as New York City mayor, to take on the establishment, but he comes out of the primary as an emboldened kingmaker in the party. Mamdani, who campaigned relentlessly for all three congressional candidates, had emphasized that the Democratic Party “must change.” And on Tuesday night, at the Valdez primary celebration, the mayor said, “Let’s hear it for a politics…that will never forget working people. For a politics that is ready to write a new chapter in our party’s history, and for a politics that realizes the old politics that got us to this crisis, is not the politics that’s going to get us out of this crisis.” Progressive Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, said that the results in New York City “shows we have a new party.” But the results also give Republicans, who have long cast Mamdani as a radical, more ammunition to use him as a cudgel as they work to hold their razor-thin House majority in this year’s midterm elections. REPUBLICANS RELENTLESSLY USE MAMDANI AS SOCIALIST CUDGEL TO BASH VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS “Tonight wasn’t just a bad night for so-called ‘Leader’ Hakeem Jeffries. It was the night the Democrat establishment officially surrendered to Zohran Mamdani and the socialist wing of their party. Every House Democrat, in safe and competitive districts alike, will now answer to the radicals calling the shots. And Americans should be terrified by where the Democrat Party is headed,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella argued in a statement. Trump wins again The power of the Trump endorsement in GOP primaries was tested again, this time in New York. And the president prevailed. Trump-backed first-time candidate Anthony Constantino, a businessman and former boxer, defeated Robert Smullen, a retired Marine Corps colonel and New York assemblyman who had the backing of the state party, in the upstate New York race to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik. Meanwhile, in South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial runoff, Trump couldn’t lose. That’s because he endorsed both candidates in the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Henry McMaster. State Attorney General Alan Wilson defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in a landslide. TRUMP CAN’T LOSE IN HIGH PROFILE REPUBLICAN RUNOFF Trump endorsed Evette late last month, a week and a half before the gubernatorial primary. Evette finished on top of a crowded field of contenders in the primary election, with Wilson second. The field also included Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, and multimillionaire businessman Rom Reddy. Since no candidate won a majority of the vote, as the top two finishers, Evette and Wilson advanced to Tuesday’s runoff. Mace and Norman endorsed Wilson after failing to advance to the runoff. And Wilson was also backed a week ago by Sen. Ted Cruz, the conservative firebrand from Texas. Trump, meanwhile, made an 11th-hour endorsement on Friday, backing Wilson in addition to his earlier endorsement of Evette, in what appeared to be a move by the president to hedge his bet. Wilson, who topped Evette by a more than two-to-one margin as the votes continued to be counted, gave a shout-out to the president in his victory speech. “I believe he recognized what we’ve been doing,” Wilson said of Trump. “I think he saw the fight in our campaign and the energy in our campaign. I think he likes a fight. I think that’s what won him over.”
Top Dem beats progressive who likened himself to Bernie Sanders in closely watched race
Bill Ferguson, Maryland‘s Democratic Senate president, beat back a surprisingly serious challenge from a progressive candidate who goes by the social media moniker “Captain Bobby” in what became the state’s most closely watched race. Though state Senate races rarely garner much national attention, Ferguson’s challenger, activist Bobby LaPin, drew outsized attention for his offbeat online presence, where he repeatedly accused Ferguson of being too establishment. LaPin, an Army veteran, charter boat owner and social media personality, pitched himself to voters by saying, “I’m a Bernie Sanders” while calling Ferguson “a Chuck Schumer,” according to News From the States. On Tuesday night, Ferguson fended off LaPin’s challenge, winning 56.6% of the vote to LaPin’s 43.4%. Ferguson’s primary victory in deep-blue Maryland Senate District 46, which is centered in Baltimore, all but guarantees he will retain his seat. MARYLAND LT GOV REJECTS TRUMP’S CORRUPTION CLAIMS OVER MAIL-IN VOTING ERROR: ‘IT HAPPENS’ LaPin took particular issue with Ferguson’s opposition to a redistricting bill that would have eliminated Maryland’s sole Republican congressional seat. LaPin’s campaign website ripped Ferguson, saying he “single-handedly prevented Maryland from answering Trump’s assault on democracy by preventing redistricting efforts championed by the Democratic Caucus of the U.S. Congress, the Maryland State Senate, and Governor Wes Moore.” As Maryland Senate president, Ferguson rebuffed a push by Moore and national Democratic leaders to redraw Maryland’s congressional districts. Ferguson reportedly called the proposed map “objectively unconstitutional,” according to The Washington Post. He also stated that “the legal risks are too high, the timeline for action is dangerous, the downside risk to Democrats is catastrophic,” according to WTOP. TRUMP CALLS FOR DOJ PROBE INTO MARYLAND MAIL-IN BALLOT ERROR, SUSPECTING ‘CORRUPT’ GOV WES MOORE TIES The move drew heavy criticism from many Democrats. Questions were raised when Maryland Gov. Wes Moore conspicuously declined to endorse Ferguson despite Ferguson serving as one of the state’s most powerful Democrats. Despite the controversy and buzz, Ferguson held a clear money advantage over LaPin. SOCIALIST SURGE: MAMDANI FLEXES GROWING POLITICAL MUSCLE AS HE TAKES ON DEM ESTABLISHMENT At age 43, Ferguson has held the state Senate seat since 2011. He was just 27 when he was first elected, becoming the youngest state senator in Maryland history. In 2020, he was unanimously elected president of the Maryland Senate, making him the second-youngest person to hold that office in state history. Ferguson’s background is in education, and he earned a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.
‘Party of Zohran’: Mamdani emerges as Democratic kingmaker after socialist allies sweep NYC primaries
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani cemented his status as a political kingmaker after all three Democratic Socialist candidates he backed won their primary races. Major upsets unfolded in New York City on Tuesday night as Mamdani-backed candidates Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated incumbent Reps. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., and Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., respectively. And in the open 7th Congressional District, Democratic Socialist Claire Valdez won in spite of outgoing incumbent Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., endorsing another candidate. The victories for the Mamdani-backed candidates have sparked questions about where the Democratic Party is headed is headed and whether the traditional party establishment’s influence is waning. MAMDANI DISCOURAGES HAKEEM JEFFRIES PRIMARY CHALLENGER, TELLS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO ‘FOCUS’ ON NYC Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., alleged that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., cut a deal with Zohran Mamdani to ensure New York City Council member Chi Ossé did not challenge him, claiming Jeffries feared he would lose if Ossé entered the race. “Tonight’s results in New York City prove one thing, @RepJeffries cut a deal with @ZohranKMamdani to save himself and threw everyone else under the bus,” Lawler wrote on X, alleging that Ossé would have primaried Jeffries. “The Democrat party has officially become the party of Zohran, AOC, & Bernie,” Lawler continued. SOCIALISTS CHEER ‘SHOCKWAVE’ PRIMARY NIGHT AS DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES WIN, ADVANCE ACROSS THE MAP Bad Hombre, a conservative social media account on X, claimed that the Democratic Party now belonged to Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., pointing to far-left progressive pickups also in New Jersey and in Pennsylvania primary races. “If you’re John Fetterman, switching to the GOP never looked better,” Bad Hombre wrote. If you’re Chuck Schumer, you’re drafting your retirement speech and learning how to grill a burger. AOC is coming for that Senate seat. Jeremy Carl, a senior fellow at Claremont Institute, argued that the outcomes reflected broader ideological and demographic shifts within New York City, warning that the city had become a “post-American city” and predicting similar changes nationwide. REPUBLICANS RELENTLESSLY USE MAMDANI AS SOCIALIST CUDGEL TO BASH VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS “The radicalism of these soon-to-be Congressmen is going to be a headache for Democrat leadership in the House and a gift to the GOP,” Carl wrote. “The future of the Democrat party is radical and post-American in it’s (sic) orientation. Since all of these candidates are in the world’s media capital, they are going to get tons of attention,” Carl continued. “That isn’t going to play well for the Dems in 2026 and 2028.” Jason Rantz said that the wins for Mamdani Tuesday could work in Republicans’ favor as they work to paint the Democratic Socialists as the new direction of the Democratic Party. “Republicans are very obviously going to take advantage of this, and it’s going to hurt the Democrats nationwide,” Rantz said on CNN. “You could win in New York, you could win in Seattle, you can win in Portland, in Los Angeles. But that’s where you’re going to win. “And if we’re able to define the Democrats who have tried to run away from this label of being socialist, being open borders, being, you know, pro-crime or anti-Israel, if that’s the goal of the Democratic Party to run from that. Yeah, you’re not going to be able to do that anymore,” Rantz continued.
Biden appointee crushes comeback bid by billionaire wine mogul David Trone
Former Rep. David Trone, D-Md., fell short in his comeback bid to return to Congress after pouring millions of his personal fortune into the race to unseat an incumbent Democrat. Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., defeated Trone on Tuesday in a bruising primary battle for a gerrymandered House seat in western Maryland, according to The Associated Press. The intraparty contest was one of the costliest primaries of the 2026 cycle, with more than $32 million spent between both candidates, who had considerable wealth at their disposal to boost their respective campaigns. It is unclear whether total spending eclipsed the Kentucky primary battle that resulted in the defeat of Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., which recently earned the title of the nation’s most expensive House primary. DHS FIRES BACK AFTER DEM BILLIONAIRE DAVID TRONE CLAIMS ICE IS ‘EXECUTING PEOPLE’ Trone, the billionaire founder of the alcohol retailer Total Wine & More, put more than $25 million of his wealth into the race. Delaney, a freshman lawmaker who served in the Biden administration, spent at least $7 million of her own money to fend off Trone’s primary challenge for a second House term. She previously served in the Biden administration as a political appointee in the Commerce Department. Though both candidates had few policy differences, Trone sharply criticized Delaney for voting for the GOP-authored Laken Riley Act in early 2025. Delaney later said she regretted supporting the law, which requires the detention of illegal immigrants accused or convicted of certain crimes. Delaney also denounced Trone for touting support from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an advertisement focused on his defense of abortion rights, despite not receiving a formal endorsement. Trone, who represented the district for three terms, previously bankrolled a failed 2024 Senate bid with more than $60 million of his fortune, losing to now-Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md. He notably endorsed Delaney to succeed him in Congress. FROM WASSERMAN SCHULTZ TO GOLDMAN, DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS ARE FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL Maryland’s Democratic establishment rallied around Delaney’s campaign in a notable display of unity against Trone’s insurgent campaign. Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and former House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., endorsed Delaney’s re-election campaign. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also backed Delaney’s campaign. Meanwhile, Trone touted the endorsement of the state’s largest teachers union. Neither Delaney nor Trone reside in the district, which stretches from the rural, Republican-leaning northwestern corner of the state to the heavily Democratic and suburban Montgomery and Frederick counties. Both Democrats live in the affluent Potomac, Md., suburb near Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump came within six points of winning the Democratic-leaning district in 2024, but national Republicans do not view the seat as a top pickup opportunity. Delaney’s husband, John Delaney, previously represented the seat from 2013 to 2019 before launching a failed campaign for president in 2020.
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.”