A potential challenge to House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is rattling New York’s Democratic establishment and exposing deep divisions within the party. According to Axios, New York City councilman Chi Ossé, a close ally of socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, has privately discussed launching a primary campaign against Jeffries.
“Ossé, who backed Mamdani in the mayoral primary and headlined a rally and canvass efforts for him, has spoken privately with progressive groups about potentially taking on Jeffries in the Democratic primary next year,” Axios reported, citing three sources familiar with the talks. The outlet added that such a move “could drive a further wedge” between Jeffries and Mamdani, who has refused to temper his socialist message even as the election nears.
The report noted that “any effort by Ossé to unseat Jeffries—one of the most powerful Democrats in the nation—likely would deepen the divide within the Democratic Party over age and ideology.” That divide has already widened after Mamdani’s recent primary win, which left some Democrats in “absolute panic and fear” about facing challenges from his allies.
Ossé denied plans to run, texting Axios: “It would take a very dire situation in order for me to even consider spending the rest of my 20s in dc.” He later clarified, “Just to be clear, I’m not running for Congress.”
Jeffries’s team reportedly “issued a smashmouth warning to his would-be opponents,” vowing to “target democratic socialists in the state legislature if they go after his congressional seat.”
