(The Center Square) — A key democratic socialist group has voted not to endorse Council Member Chi Ossé’s fledgling challenge to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in next year’s Democratic primary.
The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City Electoral Working Group announced Saturday that in an online poll of its members 52% — or 626 — voted against recommending Ossé’s endorsement in New York’s 8th Congressional District. Another 46% voted in favor of the endorsement, the group said.
Ossé addressed members of the DSA at a candidate forum last week, and the working group said its members “engaged in a robust debate over the merits of Ossé’s candidacy, the political terrain of the district, and the strategic considerations around committing our chapter to a potential campaign,” the party said in statement to members.
“Given that Council Member Ossé failed to win support for a recommendation of endorsement from a majority of voting members, the Electoral Working Group OC does not make a recommendation for endorsement at this time,” the statement said.
The move not to endorse Osse is viewed as a victory for New York City Mayor-elect and DSA member Zohran Mamdani, who urged the party not to back Osse’s primary bid against Jeffries next year. Mamdani is trying to shore up ties with Democratic leaders in Washington and Albany to win support for his affordability agenda. He’s also trying to shield the city from President Donald Trump’s threats to cut off federal funding.
Ossé, 27, filed paperwork last week with the Federal Election Commission creating a congressional campaign committee to explore a June primary challenge against Jeffries, a New York moderate who has faced criticism from the Democratic party’s progressive wing. Ossé has aligned himself with Mamdani and blamed Jeffries and other top New York Democrats for the party’s misfortune in previous elections.
“The Democratic Party’s leadership is not only failing to effectively fight back against Donald Trump, they have also failed to deliver a vision that we can all believe in,” Ossé said in a statement.
Jeffries, 55, could be the next House Speaker if Democrats win a majority in next year’s midterm elections. He has represented the district since he was first elected in 2013. He has run unopposed in five of his last seven elections, including last year when he won a seventh term last year by 51 points.
Republicans currently have a 53-47 edge in the U.S. Senate, and Democrats would need to flip at least four seats to win a majority in the 2026 midterms. The GOP holds the tie-breaking vice presidency.
