On Tuesday, June 23, local time, all three candidates publicly endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept to victory in the Democratic congressional primaries in New York, drawing intense attention to the mayor's political influence.

In heavily Democratic New York, a primary victory often virtually guarantees a win in the general election.

The results are seen as providing a springboard for Mayor Mamdani, who has been in office for six months, to expand his political brand into the federal legislature.

At a press conference on Wednesday, June 24, Mayor Mamdani emphasized the results, calling them "a clear mandate showing that the old ways of New York are over." He added, "Voters are demanding leaders who are not afraid to challenge the status quo, even if it means fighting our party's establishment."

Historically, New York mayors have been reluctant to get involved in internal party factional disputes or step to the forefront of primary elections.

However, Mayor Mamdani took a distinctively active path, engaging in everything from recruiting candidates and fundraising to appearing in advertisements and dispatching his closest aides.

Bloomberg News reported that the primary served as a test of the early-term mayor's influence over the power structure of the New York Democratic Party, calling it a "successful gamble" that risked souring relations with senior party figures.

Local media are highlighting Mayor Mamdani as a "kingmaker" and a "new power broker," noting that the results have propelled him to emerge as a new axis of power within the Democratic Party.

Political consultant Evan Roth Smith said, "We live in Zohran Mamdani's New York now." He added, "Despite the insider drama, opposition, and massive amounts of money spent to stop him, the voters truly support Mayor Mamdani."

The candidates endorsed by Mayor Mamdani scored consecutive victories in highly contested battlegrounds.

In the 10th Congressional District, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander overwhelmingly defeated two-term incumbent Representative Dan Goldman, who was backed by pro-Israel groups, by a margin of about 28 percentage points.

In the 13th Congressional District, which has a large population of Black and Dominican voters, Darializa Avila Chevalier, a relatively unknown democratic socialist, pulled off a major upset by defeating five-term incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat.

In the 7th Congressional District, State Assemblymember Claire Valdez defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who had the backing of the party establishment.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) analyzed the outcome as "a rebuke to the party establishment," noting that it "solidified his status as a formidable kingmaker" capable of swaying congressional elections.

All three candidates share Mayor Mamdani's progressive economic policies while also holding critical stances on U.S. policy toward Israel.

They put economic grievances, such as soaring housing, childcare, and living costs, at the forefront of their campaigns while calling for a reassessment of U.S. military aid to Israel.

Following his victory, Lander emphasized the need to review U.S. policy toward Israel, saying, "Democratic voters are saying this loud and clear."

Analysts say that this platform gaining traction, despite pushback from New York's Jewish community, signals a shift within the progressive wing of the U.S. Democratic Party.

The surge of democratic socialist candidates is expected to pose a burden for the Democratic leadership.

Observers suggest that the Democratic Party may face difficulties in building internal unity on future foreign policy and economic agendas.

CNN reported that House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whose district is in Brooklyn, has lost two incumbent members of Congress and now faces a newly rising group of "firebrands."

The Republican Party is expected to launch an offensive by highlighting this as an example of the Democratic Party's "radical shift to the left."

On Wednesday, June 24, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) commented, "The Democratic establishment has officially surrendered to Mamdani and the socialist wing of their party."

New York Attorney General Letitia James, an ally of Mayor Mamdani who had differed with him on some candidates in this primary, assessed the results as a warning sign to the Democratic mainstream.

With these victories, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a non-profit political organization, has gained an opportunity to expand its presence in the U.S. House of Representatives from the current two seats to four.

Political analyst Michael Lang explained, "This is a massive opportunity for the socialist left to build power."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)